Skip to content
TrueNorthBriefQuick, clear answers for curious Canadians
Culture

Emilia Perez

What is emilia perez?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Release year 2024[2]
Director Jacques Audiard[2]
Language Spanish[2]
Country France[2]
Starring Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Édgar Ramírez[1]

Emilia Pérez is a 2024 Spanish-language French musical crime film directed by Jacques Audiard, about a Mexican cartel leader who fakes his death and transitions to live as a woman named Emilia Pérez.

Context

Emilia Pérez is a 2024 Spanish-language French musical crime film written and directed by Jacques Audiard [2]. It follows a Mexican cartel leader who seeks to fake his death and live as a woman named Emilia Pérez, with help from a lawyer [1]. The film stars Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, and Édgar Ramírez [1]. Karla Sofía Gascón plays Emilia Pérez / Juan “Manitas” del Monte [1]. The story is based on Audiard's opera libretto, which was loosely adapted from a chapter of Boris Razon's 2018 novel Écoute [2].

Documented claims

  • The film follows a Mexican cartel leader who hires a lawyer to help fake his death and undergo gender-affirming procedures. [1]
  • The title character Emilia Pérez is the new name used after the transition. [2]
  • The film is based on Audiard's opera libretto, loosely adapted from a chapter of Boris Razon's 2018 novel Écoute. [2]

Questions and answers

Is Emilia Pérez a true story?

No, Emilia Pérez is not a true story. It is based on a fictional opera libretto by Jacques Audiard, loosely adapted from a chapter of Boris Razon's 2018 novel Écoute [2].

How many Oscars did Emilia Pérez win?

The sources do not state how many Oscars Emilia Pérez won.

Is Emilia Pérez worth watching?

The sources do not provide a consensus on whether Emilia Pérez is worth watching, but reviews describe it as a riotously entertaining trans Mexican cartel musical [3].

What is the point of the movie Emilia Pérez?

The film follows a Mexican cartel leader who fakes his death and transitions to live as a woman named Emilia Pérez, with the help of a lawyer [1].

Sources

  1. 'Emilia Perez' Is All Outline, No Substance - The Latinx Project — latinxproject.nyu.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. What Is 'Emilia Pérez' Based On? All About the Inspiration Behind the Film — people.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Emilia Pérez review – Jacques Audiard's riotously entertaining trans Mexican cartel musical — theguardian.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Culture