The stars of Cannes hit Emilia Perez opened up about the political layers of their genre-blending musical on Sunday. Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Édgar Ramírez addressed the press, discussing Jacques Audiard’s film set in a Mexico fraught with cartel violence amid an impending summer election.
A Mexican journalist asked how they reconcile the film’s aesthetic beauty with the real-world corruption. “I’ve lived in LA for 20 years. Mexican culture is very close to my heart; I have a lot of family there. Corruption and injustice are everywhere, but I’m thankful to Jacques for his creative freedom in telling this story,” said Saldaña.
Gomez chimed in, agreeing with Saldaña. “I still have family there. Growing up in Texas was another significant chapter of my life. Overall, it was a wonderful experience.”
Ramírez waxed poetic about the challenges facing Latin Americans. “I visit often, and there’s a sense of exile within oneself. Watching our film, the familiar world disappears and then reappears. This feeling is widespread in America. We don’t recognize the country we live in, yet we can’t leave it. We Latin Americans must celebrate and create as if hope is just on the horizon. It drives our destiny forward,” he said.
Mexican actress Adriana Paz was blunt about the harsh realities in her homeland. “I live in Mexico, and every day is filled with fear. You can’t go out alone at night. Education and preparation are vital; the range of issues is enormous,” she said.
Emilia Pérez received the longest standing ovation at Cannes this year, a full nine minutes of applause. Gomez was seen wiping away tears as the Palais resounded with cheers, whistles, and claps.
In Audiard’s film, Saldaña plays Rita, an overqualified lawyer undervalued by a firm more interested in aiding criminals than pursuing justice. She finds an unexpected escape when a feared drug cartel leader, Manitas Gascón, enlists her help for a secretive sex change operation to become the woman he’s always wanted to be, with Gomez playing his unsuspecting wife.
Emilia Pérez is one of the most talked-about films at Cannes, alongside Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice and Pamela Anderson’s Last Showgirl. The film is in the running for Audiard’s second Palme d’Or and is also eligible for the Queer Palm, awarded to films exploring LGBTQ themes by a jury led by Belgian filmmaker Lukas Dhont.
