A couple of months ago, cinematographer Paul Guilhaume, AFC earned a Bronze Frog at Camerimage in recognition of his work on Emilia Pérez (Netflix). He and writer-director Paul Audiard were also nominated for the Golden Frog for their collaboration on the film.

The recognition adds to assorted plaudits this awards season, such as this week’s four Golden Globes--including for best comedy or musical feature, and best non-English language film--and a DGA Award nomination for Audiard for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film.

Emilia Pérez is a musical, a crime thriller, comedy and drama rolled into one. It introduces us to a talented but undervalued lawyer named Rita (portrayed by Zoe Saldana) who receives a lucrative offer out of the blue from a feared drug cartel boss, Manitas Del Monte, who’s looking to retire from his sordid business and disappear forever by becoming the woman he’s always dreamt of being (Karla Sofía Gascón in a dual role as Del Monte/Emilia Pérez). Rita helps pull this off, orchestrating the faked death of Del Monte who leaves behind a widow (Jessi, played by Selena Gomez) and kids. While living comfortably and contently in her/their new identity, Pérez misses the children. Pérez once again enlists Rita–-this time to return to family life, reuniting with the kids by pretending to be their aunt, the sister of Del Monte. Now as an aunt, Pérez winds up adopting a more altruistic bent professionally, spearheading a nonprofit/charity for those who have lost loved ones due to foul play or other dire, mysterious circumstances. Along the way Pérez meets one such surviving victim (Adriana Paz) and a romance develops between them. Eventually, though, trouble enters the narrative when Jessi... Read More