Cannes Best Actress prize was awarded to the ensemble cast of this gritty, exhilarating musical-drama.

Overqualified and overexploited, lawyer Rita (Zoe Saldaña) works at a large firm in Mexico more inclined to whitewash criminals than to serve justice. But an unexpected offer from a cartel leader presents a way out.

Manitas (Karla Sofía Gascón) enlists Rita to help extract himself from the business and set up a plan for his wife (Selena Gomez) and kids after his disappearance, all with one driving motivation: to become the woman he’s always dreamed of becoming, Emilia Pérez.

Emilia creates a new life for herself, helping the loved ones of cartel victims find their bodies. That is, until her past begins to catch up and threatens to unravel everything she and Rita have worked to build.

Directed by Jacques Audiard with music by Camille and Clément Ducol, this at once pop opera, narco thriller and gender affirmation drama. Emilia Pérez earned its ensemble cast of women a joint Best Actress award at Cannes.