Emilia Pérez has been generating buzz and praise since it began airing on the festival circuit, and on November 13th, audiences at home will finally be able to witness the film’s magic on Netflix. At times a drug trafficking crime thriller and at other times a musical extravaganza, Jacques Audiard’s newest film is never anything less than a visual feast. It tells the story of a Mexican cartel leader, Manitas (played by Spanish actress Karla Sofía Gascón), who transforms into the eponymous Emilia Pérez after gender reassignment surgery.
Her new identity comes with a new outlook on life, and Emilia makes it her mission to right the wrongs of the past with the help of Rita, a brilliant and steady lawyer played by Zoe Saldaña. When it comes to her personal life, however, she is at a loss when her wife (or rather, widow) Jessi (Selena Gomez) doesn’t want Emilia to raise her children under the guise of a lost aunt. To complicate matters further, after her husband’s apparent death, Jessi begins a relationship with Gustavo Brun (played by Borders star Edgar Ramírez). The twisted story of redemption, identity and renewal is told through music – although, surprisingly, Ramírez’s character only sings in one very special scene.
TelaRant interviewed Ramírez about her on-screen partnership with Selena Gomez in Emilia Pérez, what stood out to her most about Jacques Audiard’s directorial vision, and how her karaoke interlude came about.
Edgar Ramírez praises his instant chemistry with Selena Gomez on the set of Emilia Pérez
“We became each other’s safety net for the intensity of the love story that developed between our characters.”
Screen Rant: This film is a fascinating experience on every level, and I can’t help but wonder how it was introduced to you. How did Jacques Audiard describe it and what was the script like at first reading?
Edgar Ramírez: First of all, I felt like before it was something truly unique; truly special. And in fact, the script was practically [just]j the bones. This is a story and a script that developed until the end, so we never had a final draft or a final version. Things were evolving, changing and transforming as we went along.
And that was part of the excitement; that was part of the excitement, arriving on set with an idea of what we could find and then discovering the most incredible emotions there. Jacques managed to create a space where he knew what he wanted, but at the same time was very open to collaborating. He was very open in letting us discover the scenes together. That combination of precision and also openness to new ideas is something that, as an actor, you feel very grateful for.
Screen Rant: Speaking of that discovery, you and Selena don’t get much screen time together, but you’re crafting an entire story of love and betrayal in that short space of time. Can you talk about working with her as a scene partner?
Edgar Ramírez: We were very lucky to have instant chemistry and connection. It was almost like an intuition; almost like a certainty of understanding ourselves, of knowing ourselves on an energetic and spiritual level.
There was something that made me feel very close to her and very safe with her, and I think very quickly we became each other’s safety net for the intensity of the love story that developed between our characters. That’s something I think I can extend to the rest of the cast. I think these are tremendous actresses, and we were very lucky to feel very comfortable with each other and to become very close, very quickly.
I think it was also because it was a very intimate shoot and we were living very close to each other. Basically, I shared a house with Zoe and her family. We had a yard, like a patio, between us. Basically, every day I went to work just to meet my friends at the playground. And that definitely informed the process and made us feel very safe to take risks.
Edgar Ramírez never expected to sing karaoke for Emilia Pérez
“It’s not a polished or grand musical. It’s very raw; very punk in a way.”
Screen Rant: You’re running the gamut in this movie, with a karaoke scene here and maybe a shootout there. Was there a moment that challenged you the most or excited you the most?
Edgar Ramírez: Honestly, everything happened. It all happened because it is a very intense and unique film. It’s a kaleidoscope; a film that constantly transforms and within the scenes, new things are emerging. The scene was never at the end of the day what you imagined it would be. Definitely, when the film was cut and edited, it was also very different from what you felt that day. And that was fascinating. It’s fascinating how alive the film feels.
Screen Rant: One thing that really fascinates me is how the songs aren’t full-blown musical numbers, but feel like they really come from the heart. How do you approach this as your character?
Edgar Ramírez: Well, that’s funny. My character wasn’t supposed to sing and it wasn’t supposed to be part of the musical nature of the film. This was something that one day also came as part of the development.
After Selena and I started telling the love story between Jessi and Gustavo, I received a message from Jacques telling me: “Edgar, for the next two weeks you will be rehearsing for the number “Mi Camino”. And I said: “Okay , but what is Mi Camino?” I didn’t even know the names of the songs because I was never part of it.
This was a very pleasant surprise. I think that beautiful chemistry, which I feel very grateful for [to have] it came about between Selena and me, inspired Jacques to include Gustavo in the number and then led us to the karaoke scene. That was so funny. And it’s true what you said, it’s a musical, but it’s not a polished or grand musical. It’s very raw; very punk in a way. And that’s something that I’m really excited about.
More about Emilia Pérez (2024)
From renegade author Jacques Audiard comes Emilia Pérez, an audacious fever dream that defies genres and expectations. Through liberating song and dance and bold visuals, this odyssey follows the journey of four remarkable women in Mexico, each in search of their own happiness. Fearsome cartel leader Emilia (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita (Zoe Saldaña), an underappreciated lawyer stuck in a dead-end job, to help fake her death so that Emilia can finally live authentically as herself. Written and directed by Audiard (Rust and Bone, A Prophet), the Cannes-winning double feature also stars Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz and Édgar Ramírez.
Check out our other interviews with Emilia Pérez here:
Source: Rant Plus Screen