使用Python剥离和替换高unicode字符文档的最快方法是什么？

I am looking to replace from a large document all high unicode characters, such as accented Es, left and right quotes, etc., with "normal" counterparts in the low range, such as a regular 'E', and straight quotes. I need to perform this on a very large document rather often. I see an example of this in what I think might be perl here: I am looking to replace from a large document a