Emilia Pérez 4K 2024

How do you know if the movie in front of you is good? One theory is that you haven't seen anything like it before. How the script is constructed, how it's directed, how the music is chosen, the framing, and how the mise-en-scene plays out. In “Emilia Perez,” almost every aspect of this list I would describe as inventive. Maybe there was nothing outstanding here in terms of camerawork, but in terms of overall style, the picture was original, entertaining, colorful, and truly magical. Yes, the first half of the movie is rather slow and may make you look at your watch, but bear with me. The second half builds up a great tension in the plot. And don't let the musical genre scare you away. The songs and dances here are unobtrusively and gently woven into the overall dynamics. This is not a classic musical, it's sophisticated modern theater+movie in one bottle. Of course, in a bottle of sweet Spanish Jerez polished with roasty tequila and salt.

“Emilia Perez” should have been directed by Almodóvar. That's not a fact, it's my opinion or just a theoretical possibility. At least the plot, color and characters are absolutely from his earlier films. Encounters, betrayals, infidelities, physical transformations, unexpected denouements, strong emotions, nervous conflicts, Spanish language and passion. All of these things are in abundance. I don't know how the wonderful French director Jacques Audiard could pull off such a lush “Spanish” tragedy. But he did well, just a round of applause.

The cast is unreal. Sultry Latin American women, piercing looks, tactility, sensuality. Wonderful outfits for heroines developed with the help of creative director Yves Saint Laurent. And so unexpected to see actresses of a completely different plan in such a dramatic role, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez. Beautiful. And the stunning, charismatic Carla Gascon, who won Best Actress at Cannes. They could play out a brilliant story just by the three of them sitting around a table in the same room. It's a manifesto of love for women. A manifesto of respect for their choices, their idiosyncrasies. Mommies, aunties, abandoned, lonely, courageous, strong and independent, a wide variety of female characters and archetypes in one little story about finding yourself and your happiness. But it's not just about women either. Sorry, no spoilers. The plot has many sharp turns that are worth seeing in person to get your shot of extravaganza, expression, excitement, energy and inspiration.