France, May 20 -- The official selection is definitely full of surprises this year, with first-time directors rubbing shoulders with a host of experienced veterans.

In the running for the coveted Palme d'Or is the latest offering by French director Jacques Audiard - who wowed Cannes audiences in 2015 with Dheepan, that won the top prize.

With Emilia Perez, he has taken the idea of "experimental" into a new dimension.

The pitch goes something like this: mix a Mexican cartel boss wanting a sex change, a lonely lawyer ready to help him with a cast of singing and dancing characters, and you have an explosive cocktail.

This is in part thanks to the trio of women leading the film, each with their own very strong character. Zoe Saldana is th...