Jacques Audiard is not a name one associates with musicals, famed as he is for gritty thrillers such as The Beat That My Heart Skipped and Un Prophet; nevertheless, he proves his versatility with Emilia Perez, an entirely successful Spanish-language, trans-themed, all singing and dancing extravaganza.

In a premise redolent of Almodóvar, Zoe Saldana plays Rita, a promising lawyer held back by her gender and skin colour, who is propositioned by Mexican cartel boss Manitas (Karla Sofia Gascon) who seeks discreet assistance in transitioning to a woman. When this is done, Rita is to help fake his death, transfer his wife and sons to Switzerland, while he re-emerges as Emilia Perez. Audiard’s exuberant film doesn’t shy away from the moral quandaries the scenario raises, primarily those surrounding his protagonist’s murderous and coercive past life, and to what degree this history can be whitewashed.

Notes by David O’Mahony.