Ema is young, irresponsible, erratic, and loves to set things on fire. Her life is filled with distraction and disfunction while she tries hard to fill a gap left by the abandonment of the young adopted boy Polo (Cristián Suárez) by her and husband Gastón (Gael García Bernal). She is a dancer by trade and Gastón a choreographer.

Through a convoluted plot device, Ema comes in contact with the couple that adopted Polo and ensnares both of them in her hedonistic lifestyle. The ease in which she accomplishes this defies normal logic but as things progress you learn they too are damaged and looking for things not found in their marriage.

The main obstacle you must overcome to find enjoyment in watching Ema is trying to relate to someone that you have so little in common with. Her narcissistic behaviour is very off-putting and as things progress you find little in the way of understanding as to how she came to be so self-centered. Thinking that Larraín is there as your tour guide might be a misstep as you are left to find your own feelings.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/Palacecinemas

Free-spirited, platinum-blonde Ema (Di Girolamo) is a beguiling, stubborn and fiercely talented young dancer and teacher. Her insatiable passion lies in the sexy reggaetón music she and her friends dance to on the city’s streets; she’s forged a career as part of an experimental modern ensemble overseen by her husband, demanding choreographer Gastón (Bernal).

The couple is reeling from a crisis: they’ve just returned their adopted 12-year-old son Polo back to child services, after the troubled boy set fire to their home and injured Ema’s sister. The couple’s agonising decision spins the marriage into chaos, but the guilt-ridden Ema refuses to let go, and sets out on a strange, secretive, and fearless quest to reunite her family…

Interspersing sequences of stunning choreography with a gripping and ingeniously structured narrative of seduction and manipulation, all set to an immersive electronic score by Nicholas Jaar, Larraín’s mesmerising film hinges on Di Girolamo’s extraordinary performance: tender, volatile, physical and fully alive. The result is unforgettable.

Ema will be released in Australian cinemas May 13!
www.palacefilms.com.au