Brush up your Spanish for Emilia Perez, a wildly creative thriller/comedy/romance opera. Karla Sofia Gascon plays a cartel boss who hires lawyer Zoe Saldana to help him fakes his death and change his sex. Returning as Emilia Perez, she reconnects with the lawyer who arranged her new life. Together, the two create a nonprofit aiding families looking for the remains of loved ones lost to cartel violence. The plot thickens when Emilia, posing as a distant cousin, brings her wife and children back to Mexico. Selena Gomez plays the wife, a nice departure for her comic turns on Only Murders in the Building. I expect Emilia Perez to receive a nomination as best foreign film of 2024. It may well compete for best picture of the year.
