Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Ema Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 13, 2022

Pablo Larraín is an often intentionally provocative filmmaker, and for anyone needing proof of that statement who hasn't yet seen Larraín's current outing, Spencer, look no further than Ema, Larraín's (apparently interstitial) return to Chilean production after having helmed another biopic about a traumatized woman in a marriage to a famous government sort, Jackie. Ema is (hopefully) fictional, the story of dancer Ema (Mariana Di Girolamo) and her estranged husband Gastón (Gael García Bernal), who have had the misfortune to adopt a seriously troubled little boy named Polo (Cristián Suárez). Polo's tendency toward pyromania and other acts of sabotage have resulted in some horrifying consequences, with the result being that Ema and Gastón have finagled his return to the orphanage, a decision which has only resulted in more consequences, including nonstop recriminations between the spouses as to what may have gone wrong. Now, all of this plot machinery may seem positively soap operatic, and there in fact is that kind of element wafting in and out of the story, but what helps to make Ema so viscerally compelling despite what some may feel are at least occasional narrative flaws is its emphasis on dance, something that gives Ema a sense of freedom and emotional well being that her "real" life doesn't.

Larraín begins the film with an intentionally disquieting image which might be perceived to be a bit too self conscious about delivering "Symbology", however arresting it might be. A traffic light in an almost dystopian urban environment is going up in flames, and for a minute some may feel like Ema is going to ply some kind of Mad Max (or, given this film's focal character of a woman with close cropped blonde hair, Tank Girl ) territory, a perception that may continue for at least a moment when Ema is revealed to be wearing a flamethrower and what almost looks like a hazmat suit. Now this image only lasts for a few seconds, and yet it seems redolent with all sorts of supposed "meaning", though some of that admittedly accrues once further elements are revealed. Among those is Polo's pyromania, and I'm not sure Larraín and his co-writers ever adequately address whether Ema's tendency to set things on fire (which recurs throughout the film) is a response to Polo or one of the reasons for his behavior. Also, the whole subtext of Ema trying to "break free" from restraints seems all too obviously connoted by a traffic signal, a veritable Symbol With a Capital S of societal order, burned to a crisp.

There's a definite disconnect between some of the elements at play in Ema, but that frankly may be one reason why the film is so distinctive and at times beyond disturbing. As Larraín did with Jackie, timelines are toyed with here, with a deliberately disjunctive editing style that doesn't necessarily seem to always be offering things in a strictly chronological order, something else that can add to the off kilter feeling of the entire enterprise. But the emotions of the film are absolutely raw if not always easy to experience. It turns out that Gastón's infertility is what led to the adoption of Polo, but almost shockingly, Ema uses that fact to blame Gastón for the misery they've experienced. The film repeatedly offers characters delivering lines directly to the camera, as if the audience itself is part of the conversation, and one of the more upsetting moments is when Ema, staring directly at the camera, calls Gastón an "infertile pig".

Ema's simultaneous emphasis on the dance style known as Reggaeton is another really peculiar element, at least within the overheated, almost melodramatic, story playing out (one that also involves a number of sexual dalliances for the title character). But it's some of the dance sequences that just immediately suffuse this film with undeniable energy. Di Girólamo is a rather striking presence in many of these scenes, though there's an intentionally freewheeling style on display here which might not fit into preconceived notions of what "traditional" choreography looks like. Di Girólamo also delivers a blistering performance, and she rather reminded at times, both in appearance and kind of in the acting arena as well, of Lady Gaga.

A filmography for Pablo Larraín is included in the insert booklet that's part of this release, and it states explicitly that Covid was responsible for the film only being widely released in the United States in 2021 after its initial festival rollout (which evidently did include some United States bookings) in 2019. It looks like my colleague Brian Orndorf only saw the film in 2021, and he may have liked it incrementally more than I do. You can read Brian's thoughts here.

Ema Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ema is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Music Box Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.38:1. There's no technical information provided in the insert booklet, and unfortunately the IMDb is also largely moot, though I will say some internet sleuthing disclosed that cinematographer Sergio Armstrong seems to have used Arri cameras on several films, at least if my minimal Spanish skills have correctly translated some sites I found. One way or the other, this is a really striking looking presentation that delivers a richly saturated palette a lot of the time, including scenes that are almost drenched in pinks, purples and greens, giving an almost alien appearance to certain sequences. Detail levels are consistently precise looking throughout the presentation, with fine detail admittedly occasionally ebbing in some of the darkest moments, as in some nighttime material or club dance scenes. I'm frankly not sure if some of the flame effects were CGI or not, which is probably testament to how good they look.

Ema Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ema has a frequently propulsive soundtrack that is delivered with considerable gusto on this disc's DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track (a less punchy but still completely fine DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track is also offered). For those not that well acquainted with Reggaeton (and I count myself among that group), it (at least in this film) utilizes hip hop beats along with kind of trance like EDM synth washes and the result is a really immersive, enveloping listening experience during the dance sequences. The film's use of outdoor environments also provides good opportunities for smartly placed ambient environmental effects. Dynamic range is appealing wide on this often exciting sounding track. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Ema Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Select Scene Commentary with Choreographer Jose Vidal provides background on the film's dance sequences.


• Real Music Video (HD; 3:12)


• Green Band Theatrical Trailer (HD; 2:00)


• Red Band Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:58)


• TV Spots (HD; 1:15)


• Photo Gallery (HD)

Additionally, Music Box Films has included an unusually well appointed insert booklet, with several interesting essays and an interview with Pablo Larraín.

Note: I'm not quite sure why, and this may simply be a packaging error or supply chain issue, but the keepcase is a 2 disc variety, though there's only one disc.

Ema Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

My father and his siblings were orphaned at a very young age and endured years of foster care and/or adoptions, resulting in significant emotional scars for several of them (my Dad managed to get through it all amazingly intact, though his younger sister ended up committing suicide). I kind of wish Ema had focused more on little Polo (who only appears, and then fitfully, when the film is already about halfway over) rather than the endless bickering and recriminations between his erstwhile adoptive parents. The whole dance angle in this film is just flat out weird, but also undeniably forceful and riveting. One way or the other, chances are you probably haven't seen anything quite like Ema. Technical merits are solid, and with caveats duly noted, Ema comes Recommended.