critics consensus

Beautifully filmed and powerfully acted, Ema puts a thoroughly distinctive spin on its story of emotional trauma and self-discovery. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

A couple deals with the aftermath of an adoption that goes awry.

Rating:

R (Language|Strong Sexual Content|Nudity)
Genre:

drama
Original Language:

Spanish
Director:

Pablo Larraín
Producer:

Juan de Dios Larraín
Writer:

Guillermo Calderón, Pablo Larraín, Alejandro Moreno
Runtime:

1h 42m
Aspect Ratio:

Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Mariana Di Girólamo
Ema

Gael García Bernal
Gastón

Santiago Cabrera
Aníbal

Josefina Fiebelkorn
Perla

Giannina Fruttero
Sonia

Paola Giannini
Raquel

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Ema

All Critics (84) | Top Critics (25) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (9)

...likely to be among my favorites of the year.

September 26, 2020 | Full Review…

Kathleen Sachs
Chicago Reader
This is, among other things, a vivid musical. So what if the story ultimately stretches credibility? Larrain is not bothered about social realism; his film is more like one of the heroine's balls of flame, hurtling towards our comfort zones.

July 31, 2020 | Full Review…

Stephanie Bunbury
The Age (Australia)
Director Pablo Larrain's jugglery of colors, music, dance and visuals overtakes the emotional undercurrents of the story. But I would urge you to stay with the film...

May 8, 2020 | Full Review…

Anupama Chopra
Film Companion
It is worth persevering, because there is something in there. I'm just not entirely sure what it is...and it is an aftermath film, it takes until the last 15 or 20 minutes to pick up the pieces...

May 4, 2020 | Full Review…

Mark Kermode
Kermode & Mayo's Film Review
[A] heady plunge into sweat-drenched melodrama and a stingingly malicious failing relationship.

May 3, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Wendy Ide
Observer (UK)
Ema puts out many contradictory things out there, but my biggest takeaway is something quite simple: love can heal even the deepest wounds. And that sometimes, you can burn the dislike, and hatred, off.

May 1, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Shubhra Gupta
The Indian Express
A phenomenal dance movie, when it wants to be.

January 11, 2021 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Tim Brayton
Alternate Ending
Larraín intersperses Ema with beautiful dance sequences and crisp cinematography. If this drama provides no easy answers, at least it's a delight to behold.

October 8, 2020 | Full Review…

Alan Zilberman
Washington City Paper
In spite of outstanding choreographies, the narrative is incoherent, and leaves us questioning what kind of experience we had in the theater [Full Review in Spanish]

September 1, 2020 | Full Review…

Gisela Savdie
El Heraldo
It is a film that is hot to the touch; it feels dangerous and volatile but also enrapturing.

August 28, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Andrew Gaudion
VultureHound
It's a shame to see Larraín on slightly disappointing form, but there's something about this movie that seems a little too pleased with its own trickery.

August 20, 2020 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

Tom Beasley
Flickering Myth
Pyromania becomes performance art for [Ema]. The ceremonial destruction of public property becomes not only an empowering weapon to burn down the patriarchy, but also a ritual for cleansing pain so she can be free to claim a brighter future.

July 24, 2020 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

Prahlad Srihari
Firstpost