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Emilia Pérez
A fiery operatic thriller bathed in shadow and neon, where raw desperation bleeds into a fever dream of reinvention, casting identity as a fragile, blood-stained mirror shattering across the Mexican night.
Emilia Pérez
Emilia Pérez

"Passion has a new name."

21 August 2024 Belgium 132 min 6.4 (2,004)

Director: Jacques Audiard

Cast: Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez

Drama Thriller Identity, Fluidity, and Self-Actualization Redemption, Guilt, and Atonement The Inescapability of the Past Institutional Corruption and Social Injustice Maternal Love and Possessiveness
Budget: $26,000,000
Box Office: $16,317,120

Emilia Pérez — Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Emilia Pérez / Juan "Manitas" Del Monte

Karla Sofía Gascón

Archetype: Antihero / Tragic Protagonist Key Trait: Dual nature balancing maternal warmth with underlying cartel ruthlessness

Motivation

To live authentically as a woman, protect her children, and seek redemption for her past crimes.

Character Arc

Terrifying, ruthless cartel kingpin who transforms into a woman living authentically and running a humanitarian NGO, eventually falling back into possessive, controlling tendencies leading to a tragic downfall.

Rita Moro Castro

Zoe Saldaña

Archetype: Catalyst / Moral Guide / Secondary Protagonist Key Trait: Pragmatic intellect and high kinetic energy

Motivation

Financial liberation, professional respect, and using her skills for genuine justice.

Character Arc

Frustrated defense attorney aiding corrupt criminals who becomes the architect of Emilia’s transformation and co-founder of La Lucecita, ultimately surviving as a moral guide who prioritizes protecting Emilia's children.

Jessi Del Monte

Selena Gomez

Archetype: The Trapped Spouse / Catalyst Key Trait: Impulsive, fiery, and protective of her own desires

Motivation

Seeking personal romance, autonomy, and security for her children.

Character Arc

Sheltered wife of a cartel lord turned grieving widow in Switzerland, who becomes a resentful partner under Emilia’s control in Mexico and fights for romantic freedom with Gustavo.

Epifanía

Adriana Paz

Archetype: The Innocent / Pure Love Key Trait: Gentle resilience and emotional authenticity

Motivation

Overcoming trauma, finding safety, and loving genuinely.

Character Arc

A grieving victim of cartel violence who becomes a partner to Emilia through La Lucecita, offering Emilia a chance at romantic intimacy built on mutual healing.

Cast

Zoe Saldaña as Rita
Karla Sofía Gascón as Emilia / Manitas
Selena Gomez as Jessi
Adriana Paz as Epifanía
Edgar Ramírez as Gustavo Brun
Mark Ivanir as Wasserman
Eduardo Aladro as Berlinger
Emiliano Hasan as Gabriel Mendoza
Gaël Murguia-Fur as Angel
Tirso Pietriga as Diego
Xiomara Ahumada Quito as Woman in Black
Magali Brito as La Ponchis
Jarib dit Javier Zagoya Montiel as Chaplain
Sébastien Fruit as El Flaco
Alejandra Reyes as Rosa / Courtroom Cleaning Lady

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