Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Emilia Pérez review says it’s a grand musical crime thriller unlike anything you’ve ever seen—flamboyantly original.

The less you know about the plot of the wildly creative and electrifying Emilia Pérez, the better. Let’s just say it’s about a vicious Mexican cartel leader who goes on a mission of redemption, and leave it at that.

It’s just too enjoyable and intriguing not to let the revelations and plot twists reveal themselves and dig in. To say there are grand surprises, both in the music and the storyline, would be an understatement. It’s safe to declare that you have never seen anything like this before.

But there are a few things you should know about the film going in:

Emilia Pérez review — what you should know

Yes, it’s a musical. There are big production numbers, tender ballads and ear worm raps, woven in with adroit choreography. But this music feels organic to the storyline. Actors don’t drop whatever they’re doing and start leaping around, singing and mugging for the camera.

Clément Ducol composed the original score, French singer Camille wrote the original songs—with the assistance of a Mexican translator—and Damien Jalet served as choreographer. Together they came up with musical numbers that flow, gush, trickle, and cascade. Their work is masterful.

Yes, the film is in Spanish, so unless you’re fluent, you’ll have to depend on subtitles. But the actors are so expressive you’ll be able to feel the emotion and storyline even as you read.

The fact that it’s in Spanish is all the more interesting knowing that writer/producer/director Jacques Audiard speaks only French, and knows but a few words and expressions in Spanish and English. Creating this riveting crime thriller in a language foreign to him, with grand, operatic telenovela flourishes, is quite the feat.

Yes, actresses Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz and Zoe Saldaña absolutely deserved to share the Best Actress award at the Cannes International Film Festival this year. You’ve never seen these women give such gut wrenching performances. Two of these women you may have never seen at all, but you will eagerly look forward to seeing them again.

In fact, you’ve never seen an entire movie like Emilia Pérez before, and you likely never will again. At a time when tiring reboots, sequels and re-imaginings seem to be ubiquitous, Emilia Pérez is a true original.

Rated R

2 Hours 12 Minutes

If this Emilia Pérez review encourages you to watch it ASAP, find it on Netflix starting November 13.

Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Emilia Pérez review says it’s a grand musical crime thriller unlike anything you’ve ever seen—flamboyantly original.