Emilia PĂ©rez
Rita Moro wanted to do something against all the drug violence plaguing her native Mexico, so she became a lawyer. But nothing has come of all those well-intentioned plans because she rarely gets a good case and is only allowed to act as an assistant. One day, she is approached by notorious drug boss Manitas del Monte. He wants her to legally assist him in realising a big dream: he wants to become a woman. No one is allowed to know, including his wife and children. The operation is successful and so the former drug boss is turned into a woman: Emilia PĂ©rez. Rita has done the job, but is that the end of the matter?
French director Jacques Audiard has realised a particularly original and daring project with this film: combining crime film with comedy and musical. And with success, judging by the many awards the film has won, including the Queer Palm at Cannes. The acting of Zoe Saldana as Rita and Karla SofĂa GascĂłn as Manitas/Emilia was also awarded at Cannes.
Prior to the film, Queer Pioneers curator Renske Diks will speak with Natsumi Hernandez, who is part of Papaya Kuir, a collective working for the rights of queer and trans Latin American migrants and refugees in the Netherlands.
