The ending of Emilia Pérez is as complex as the genre-blending film itself, weaving together themes of redemption, family conflict, and the consequences of a past life steeped in crime.
Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, this Netflix crime comedy musical offers a deep dive into the struggles of its protagonist, Emilia Pérez (played by Zoe Saldaña), as she navigates her turbulent past and attempts to create a new life.
The film is a loose adaptation of the 2018 novel Écoute by Boris Razon and is France’s official entry for Best International Feature at the upcoming 97th Academy Awards in March 2025.
The film’s powerful performances, including Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Selena Gomez, elevate the drama. Emilia Pérez won the prestigious Jury Prize and Best Actress Ensemble award at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Why Emilia, Jessi, & Gustavo Meet a Tragic Fate in the Ending
The finale of Emilia Pérez is a whirlwind of betrayal, love, and violence that ultimately leads to the tragic deaths of Emilia, Jessi, and Gustavo. Throughout the film, Emilia’s complex relationship with Jessi, the mother of her children, is fraught with control, resentment, and hidden agendas.
Emilia’s offer to have Jessi and their children live with her in Mexico, where she resides in a luxurious mansion, is intended to show support.
However, Jessi sees this as a manipulation. As expressed in the song “Bienvenida,” Jessi’s bitterness toward Emilia’s wealth and her hidden strings is palpable.
When Jessi plans to marry Gustavo and move away with the children, Emilia’s sense of loss and jealousy explodes. Unable to cope with losing her children, Emilia becomes more ruthless.
Although a peripheral character, Gustavo represents a key threat to Emilia’s control over her family. After Emilia violently confronts Jessi, her anger turns to Gustavo, leading her to send her bodyguard to confront him. In retaliation, Jessi allows Gustavo’s associates to mutilate Emilia, severing three of her fingers.
The conflict culminates in a dramatic confrontation where Emilia, in shock and regret, reveals her true identity to Jessi. However, Jessi’s rash actions lead to a deadly crash, sending the car off a cliff and killing all three of them in a fiery explosion. The tragic ending is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of Emilia’s obsessive need for control.
Why Emilia Couldn’t Live Without Her Children: The Heartbreak of Motherhood
Emilia’s relationship with her children is central to the film’s emotional core. While Emilia has transitioned into a new life, part of her remains deeply attached to her former identity, and her love for her children reflects this unresolved conflict. In the song “El Amor,” Emilia expresses the pain of not being able to fully embrace her true self, with her past life hidden in plain sight.
Throughout the film, Emilia tries to be present for her children, but the moment Jessi announces her decision to leave with Gustavo, Emilia’s world unravels.
Despite all the progress Emilia has made in her transition and the positive changes in her life, she cannot accept the idea of losing her children. Her need to control her family and her fear of losing them ultimately lead to the tragic conclusion.
What Happens to Emilia’s Children and Rita After the Tragedy?
The tragic deaths of Emilia and Jessi leave their children orphaned. In a twist of fate, Rita, introduced earlier in the film, steps in to care for them.
Rita, who had long desired motherhood, expresses her wish to have children in the song “Todo y Nada.” While the circumstances are not ideal, Rita’s maternal instincts kick in, and she becomes the children’s guardian.
Though Rita never intended to find herself in this role, she is now positioned to offer the children a future.
They may stay in Emilia’s mansion in Mexico or perhaps travel to Switzerland, where they have fond memories of skiing. Given their Mexican heritage, however, they will likely remain in Mexico, where they will be cared for and provided for under Rita’s protection.
Why Emilia Didn’t Reveal the Truth to Jessi Sooner
A key element in Emilia Pérez is Emilia’s decision to keep her past hidden, especially from Jessi.
Despite undergoing a significant personal transformation and trying to make amends for her criminal past, Emilia never comes clean about her true identity. Her fear of rejection and the potential destruction of her relationships with her family prevents her from revealing the truth.
Had Emilia approached Jessi honestly about her transition and journey toward redemption, she might have had a better chance of gaining Jessi’s compassion and understanding. Instead, she chose to control the situation through force, pushing Jessi into a corner and making her an enemy.
This failure to communicate and connect emotionally with Jessi ultimately leads to a catastrophic breakdown in their relationship.
The Impact of Emilia’s Legacy on Her Community
Despite the tragic events that unfold in Emilia Pérez, Emilia’s legacy in the community is one of redemption.
Through her foundation, La Lucecita, she works tirelessly to help families of missing persons, offering a glimmer of hope for those affected by her past actions as a criminal kingpin. After her death, the community mourns her loss and honors her efforts.
However, there’s a profound irony in this. While Emilia is celebrated as a hero, the community remains unaware of her true identity as Manitas, the feared criminal mastermind responsible for many of the missing persons she later helped to find. Only Rita knows the full truth about Emilia’s past.
Despite the irony of Emilia being worshipped as a saint, her efforts to right her wrongs cannot erase the damage caused by her former life of violence and crime.
The Real Meaning of Emilia Pérez’s Ending: Redemption, Identity, and the Price of Change
The ending of Emilia Pérez challenges viewers to consider the complexity of Emilia’s character and the nature of redemption. Was Emilia truly redeemed by her later efforts to help others? Or is the emotional outpouring she receives from the community an ironic mask for a much darker truth?
The film invites viewers to question whether it is enough to make positive contributions to society when past sins remain buried or if true redemption can only be achieved through complete honesty and self-acceptance.
Emilia’s impact on the issue of missing persons is significant, but her failure to advocate for her community—particularly the trans community—highlights the internal conflict that drives her. By choosing to remain silent about her identity as a trans woman, Emilia sacrifices the opportunity to advocate for the causes closest to her heart, opting instead for a more self-serving cause that allows her to keep her secret intact.
Ultimately, Emilia Pérez is a film about the complexity of identity, the painful cost of transformation, and how personal history shapes how we engage with the world around us.
Final Thoughts on Conclusion and Legacy
Emilia Pérez provides a thought-provoking and emotionally charged ending that raises important questions about personal redemption, the impact of secrets on family dynamics, and the tension between public admiration and private guilt.
While Emilia’s legacy may be viewed as one of healing and community service, the full scope of her past cannot be ignored. The film offers a bittersweet reflection on the difficulty of moving forward when the shadows of the past are never fully left behind.
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