Filmed in Mexico, Zoe Saldaña who plays Rita, an overqualified and exploited lawyer who wastes her talents working for a large firm far better at whitewashing criminal garbage than serving justice. But an unexpected way out appears, the sort of offer she can’t refuse — to help feared cartel boss Juan “Little Hands” Del Monte – aka Manitas (played by Gascón) retire from his business and disappear forever. Manitas has a plan he’s been fine-tuning in secret for years, to become, at last, the woman he’s always dreamed of being.   

Following the movie’s Cannes debut, Selena Gomez who plays Manitas wife, Jessi del Monte, opened up about the nerves she was feeling. “I was very nervous because this is a project that is unlike anything I’ve ever done before,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in May. “Even though I have such a small part, it’s such a big and special project that I feel so lucky that I was able to be a part of it.”

Selena also recalled the audition process, where she said she “acted insane.” She told the trade publication, “[Audiard] wanted me to perform one of the numbers and I just surrendered and completely gave myself. I was, like, ‘Well, at least I could walk away and say that I did my best.’ When he asked me to be a part of it, I was so nervous but also so excited.”

The original songs for the film were contributed by mutli–grammy winning group, Camille, while its original score was provided by Clément Ducol. The choreographic sections of the film are designed by Damien Jalet.

The film premiered on 18 May 2024 at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, and was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or in its main competition section, where it won the Jury Prize and its female ensemble won the Best Actress award. The premiere date for Emilia Perez is set to August 21, 2024.

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