French film “Emilia Perez” triumphs at the 2025 Golden Globes

AFP

Awarded at the 77thth edition At the Cannes Film Festival, Jacques Audiard's “Emilia Perez” is the big winner of the ceremony. This musical odyssey, which tells the story of the gender transition of a Mexican drug trafficker, takes home four trophies. Our analysis of an extraordinary success.  

Awarded at the Festival de Cannes by the Jury Prize and Best Actress Award, Broadcast on Netflix, the film “Emilia Pérez” by Jacques Audiard had 10 nominations for the 2025 Golden Globes. 

He lived up to his status as the frontrunner by winning a record four trophies at the 82nd Golden Globes on Sunday, January 5, in Beverly Hills, California.   

“Emila Pérez” won the award for best musical (for us, it's more of a musical drama!) for its odyssey in Mexico about a drug trafficker who changes sex and wants to do good for the families of victims of drug cartels.  

He thus crushed Anora's Palme d'Or at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Sean Baker's film, went home empty-handed. Which didn't surprise us, because Anora has been rather shunned since its release in theaters.  

Jacques Audiard's film also won the award for best international film and that of best supporting actressfor Zoe Saldana, and that of the best song for the French artists Camille and Clément Ducol, composers of the original soundtrack.  

By stocking up on statuettes, “Emilia Pérez” confirms its chances for the Oscar ceremony in just two months. It is the French candidate for the Oscar for best international film. Note that this fiction was mainly filmed in the studios of Bry-sur-Marne near Paris. A question of savings for Jacques Audiard and the demonstration that French cinema can do just as well without Hollywood studios!  

Gender transition and life change: for better and for worse  

“Emilia Pérez” is a very original fiction whose critics, in our opinion, have not insisted enough on the tragic ending. Manitas del Monte changes gender, and returns, under the identity of “Aunt Emi”. She comes to live with her two children whom she cannot do without. His ex-wife, who did not recognize him, wants to rebuild her life with the man she loves. It ends very badly: the kids end up orphans.  

The moral of the story? If an adult wants to change sex (and life), the consequences can be dramatic for his family, those around him… and himself. 

We can regret that the Spanish transgender actress Karla Sofia Gascon did not mention the possible tragedies during identity changeson the occasion of her statements. You have to be really “tough” for such an adventure! The actress preferred to insist on the stigmatization of transgender people in our societies.    

She is the first trans person to have received a best actress award at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 and this has caused a few storms.  

Aged 52, she herself began “her gender transition” at the age of 46. She tells it in her autobiography entitled “Karsia, an extraordinary story”. This sex change seems to suit her rather well, unlike her heroine Emilia: Karla is married (still with the wife she met when she was 19), has a 13-year-old daughter and is a successful actress.  

 

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Demi Moore crowned best actress in “The Substance”  

Awarded at Cannes, Karla Sofia Gascon did not have the same success with the Hollywood movie people. She bowed to Demi Moore who won the award for best actress for her role in “The Substance”.  

Sensitive souls should refrain. In this horror fable by French filmmaker Caroline Fargeat, who doesn't skimp on the gore, the 62-year-old actress plays a former Hollywood star addicted to a youth serum.  

 

Demi Moore admitted that she herself was afraid of becoming an aging actress and thanked the French actress for“this magical, audacious, courageous, off the beaten track, completely crazy script”, which finally allowed her to be recognized at a ceremony major. 

“I'm in shock”, insisted the actress. “I've been doing this job for a long time, for over 45 years, and this is the first time I've earned anything as an actress. »  

 

“The Brutalist”, a future great cinema classic American  

“The Brutalist”, another big winner at the Golden Globes, won a very prestigious trio: best drama film, best director for Brady Corbet – who beat Jacques Audiard in this category – and best actor for Adrien Brody.  

Brady Corbet had already won the Silver Lion for best director at the Venice Film Festival 2024. 

This 3h30 long film tells the story of a Jewish survivor of a concentration camp, who emigrates to the United States with his wife after the Second World War. He wants to experience the American dream.  

Hailed as a masterpiece and already elevated by critics to the rank of great classics like “The Godfather”, it confirms its status as a heavyweight for the Oscars. See you on March 3, 2025 to find out the verdict of the 97th Academy Awards.  

 

Here is the complete list of winners of the Films  

Best Motion Picture Drama:The Brutalist 
Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical: Emilia Pérez 
Best Actress in a Drama:Fernanda Torres, I’m Still Here 
Best Actor in a Drama: Adrien Brody, The Brutalist 
Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical:Demi Moore, The Substance 
Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical:Sebastian Stan, A Different Man 
Best Supporting Actor: Kieran Culkin, A Real Pain 
Best Supporting Actress: Zoe Saldaña,Emilia Pérez 
Best Director:Brady Corbet,The Brutalist 
Best Original Song:El Mal– Emilia Pérez 
Best Film Score:Challengers 
Best screenplay:Conclave  

Best foreign film: Emilia Pérez 
Best box-office performance: Wicked  

You liked the article ? It mobilized our editorial staff, which lives only on your donations.
Information has a cost, especially since competition from subsidized editorial staff imposes a increased rigor and professionalism.

With your support, France-Soir will continue to offer its articles for free  because we believe that everyone should have access to free and independent information to form their own opinion.

You are the sine qua non condition for our existence, support us so that France-Soir remains the French media that allows the most legitimate people to express themselves.

If you can, support us monthly, starting from just €1. Your impact in favor of a free press will only be stronger. Thank you.