Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Pérez, a musical about a drug lord who undergoes gender-affirming surgery, won top honors at the Golden Globes on Monday, 6 January, 9 a.m. (Philippine time).

The narco-musical, starring Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña and Karla Sofía Gascón, leads the film category with wins on Best Picture Musical/Comedy, Best Picture (Non-English Language), Best Supporting Female Actor (Motion Picture) for Saldaña and Best Song (Motion Picture) for “El Mal.”

“The light always wins over darkness,” Gascón, the first openly trans actor nominated for the Globes’ lead actress prize, said. “You can maybe put us in jail, you can beat us up. But you can never take away our soul.”

Saldaña, meanwhile, was tearful during her speech as she opened up about having dyslexia. She said, “I tend to forget when I’m really anxious, and I’m filled with adrenaline, but my heart is full of gratitude.”

She then thanked her cast members, saying she was “blessed to be sharing this moment.”

Audiard, who accepted the award for Best Picture, dedicated the win to trans people, urging them “to keep their heads held high and continue to fight.” He added, “if there were more sisters in the world it might be a better place,” paying homage to “a woman as powerful and passionate as Karla Sofía Gascón.”

Camille, the half of the songwriting duo behind “El Mal,” took time to highlight the roles of Saldaña and Gascón. She said, “Songs are butterflies and we need butterflies even if it’s to denounce corruption in the world. ‘El Mal’ wouldn’t be what it is without your performance. You just should shake the house, and shake our souls. Salud.”

The Brutalist, on the other hand, was handed the Best Motion Picture (Drama). It also took home Best Director for Brady Corbet and Best Actor for Adrien Brody.

 “I was told this film was undistributable. I was told no one would come out and see it. I was told the film wouldn’t work. And I don’t resent that. But I want to use this as an opportunity to lift up filmmakers. … Films don’t exist without the filmmakers. Please, let’s support them. Let’s prop them up,” Corbet said.

Brody, meanwhile, praised his immigrant mother and grandmother for their sacrifice. “I hope this work stands to lift you up and give you a voice,” he said.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Movies

Best motion picture, drama

•The Brutalist

Best motion picture, musical or comedy

•Emilia Pérez

Best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, drama