Belgian co-production Emilia Pérez awarded four Golden Globes
Emilia Pérez was awarded four Golden Globes on Sunday evening. The film, which is a co-production with the Belgian company Les Films du Fleuve, founded by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, won the Golden Globe for best musical or comedy and the Golden Globe for best non-English language film. Additionally, it was choreographed by Brussels choreographer Damien Jalet.
Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, this Spanish-language musical tells the story of a transgender Mexican cartel boss and utilises music as a storytelling mechanism. Audiard enlisted Jalet, who has a strong international profile and style that focuses on combining dance with fashion, visual art and theatre.
Jalet was in Mexico when he received the call asking him to choreograph the film. However, he did not see how dance would fit in, "I read the script—there was no real musical moment where they could dance," he said. "We had to invent it and we had to find a dance language that would be right for this film, this reality, this context of violence."
Drawing on inspiration from daily life and interactions in Mexico, Jalet was able to infuse the film with authentic movement. "In Mexico, you have a lot of street performers at traffic lights, and they have, like, 50 seconds to do their act and then to collect the money. So it’s entertaining, it’s uplifting. But underneath, there’s a real survivor energy and a real sense of urgency. That’s something that I really wanted to inject in the film," he stated.
© Hey U Guys
Big wins for Emilia Pérez
In the category best musical or comedy, the film beat A Real Pain, Anora, Challengers, The Substance and Wicked. In the category best non-English language film, it competed against All We Imagine as Light, I'm Still Here, The Girl With The Needle, The Seed of The Sacred Fig and Vermiglio.
The film was nominated for a total of ten Golden Globes. Audiard accepted the prize and said he hoped Emilia Pérez could be "a beacon of light" and "a big sister" "in these difficult times."
The film also won the Golden Globe for best original song for a motion picture (El Mal by Clement Ducol and Camille) and for best supporting actress (Zoe Saldana). Saldana thanked the Golden Globes for "honouring the women of Emilia Pérez." In addition to Saldana, actress and singer Selena Gomez and transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón were also nominated for best supporting actress in a motion picture and best actress in a musical or comedy, respectively, but did not win.
Earlier this year, the female cast won the award for best female performance at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was also awarded the Jury Prize there.
Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez, Selena Gomez, Jacques Audiard, Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoe Saldana and the Golden Globes for Emilia Pérez on 5 January, 2025. © PHOTO AMY SUSSMAN / GETTY IMAGES via AFP
Related news
