With just days to go before the Academy Awards, the film Emilia Pérez is basking in unprecedented glory and scrutiny. Heading to the 2025 Oscars, where it secured 13 nominations, the Spanish musical drama has captured attention with its compelling narrative and groundbreaking representation. Directed by Jacques Audiard, Emilia Pérez is poised to make history as one of the most-nominated non-English films ever.
Set against the backdrop of the Mexican drug trade, Emilia Pérez tells the story of Gascón's titular character, Emilia Pérez, who stages her own death to undergo gender-affirming surgery with the help of attorney Rita, played by Zoe Saldaña. Following her transition, Emilia seeks redemption by reconnecting with her ex-wife Jessi, portrayed by Selena Gomez, and their children, all the way embracing new love with another character played by Adriana Paz.
The film's significant Oscar nominations include Best Picture, Best Director for Audiard, Best Actress for Gascón—which marks her as the first openly transgender actress to achieve this honor—and Best Supporting Actress for Saldaña, alongside nominations for adapted screenplay, cinematography, and original score. Indeed, with records shattered and accolades piling up, the anticipation is palpable for the Oscars, which will be held on March 2, 2025, livestreaming on ABC and Hulu.
Despite the excitement, Emilia Pérez has not been without its share of controversies. Critics have raised concerns over the film’s portrayal of transgender experiences and the stereotypes it perpetuates. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) labeled the film as recycling outdated tropes about trans identities. Critics have argued, "It recycles the trans stereotypes, tropes, and clichés of the not-so-distant past," representing a regression for trans representation on screen.
Yet, not every voice among the critics sings the same tune. Trans film critic Julie River contended, "I don’t think the film depicts trans women as liars. Rather, I think the film depicts Emilia, in particularly, as a liar." Her viewpoint reflects the film's complexity, allowing for nuanced discussions rather than flat condemnations.
Gascón responded to the criticism by embracing her own experiences, stating, "All I could bring to the table was my own experience, which is clearly very different from a lot of people." She elaborated on how pivotal scenes, particularly Emilia's reveal about her transition, were crafted to resonate with authenticity and importance. "It's really important for trans people," Gascón remarked during her interview, highlighting the teamwork involved to present her story accurately through Audiard's direction.
On the awards circuit, Emilia Pérez also triumphed significantly at the César Awards, where it won Best Film and Best Director among six awards. Gascón, who graced the red carpet for the first time amid the fallout from her previous offensive social media posts, lost the Best Actress award to Hafsia Herzi for her performance in Borgo. The César Awards celebrated their 50th anniversary with prominent mentions of Ukraine as part of the ceremony's political statements.
The tumultuous path to Oscars glory for Gascón took another turn with the resurfacing of her past offensive tweets, which included derogatory and insensitive remarks. This incident led to significant backlash online, culminating in Gascón stating, "I am deeply sorry to those I have caused pain.The world we live in is going to be very difficult to recover if people want to set me aside."
Defending her candidacy for the Oscars, Gascón expressed the importance of her work, saying, "I cannot renounce a nomination because what I have done is work and what is being valued is my acting work." The dilemma of cancel culture looms large over her, with her declaration depicting the struggles of artists maneuvering their public personas alongside their creative outputs.
Gascón's co-stars, along with Audiard, have publicly rebuked the resurfaced tweets, with Audiard disapproving of Gascón's portrayal of herself as the victim during this backlash. Saldaña echoed sentiments of sadness over the turmoil, stating, "I'm also disappointed. I can’t speak for other people's actions. I never believed we'd be here." Gomez mentioned the loss of magic surrounding their film but expressed gratitude for their artistic contributions.
Despite prior withdrawals from significant award functions, sources indicate Gascón will attend the Oscars ceremony. With all eyes on Hollywood, the anticipation builds—will Emilia Pérez sweep the awards or will the shadows of controversy hinder its triumph? Regardless, it has already made history during this awards season, igniting dialogue on representation and challenging artists to reflect on their journeys of acceptance and change.