Following its remarkable 13 nominations, the film Emilia Pérez has become the talk of the town, sparking both admiration and fierce criticism. Directed by Jacques Audiard, the film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, attempts to navigate complex themes of identity and violence.
Starring Karla Sofía Gascón, who has become the first openly transgender woman nominated for Best Actress at prestigious awards such as the Golden Globes and the Oscars, Emilia Pérez showcases her as a powerful Mexican mob boss seeking legal assistance from the character played by Zoe Saldaña. This film's early accolades, including the Jury Prize at Cannes, confirm its standing among critics, yet it is the subsequent controversial discussions ignited by its Netflix release in September 2024 and Saldaña's recent SAG Award win for Best Supporting Actress on February 23, 2025, which have fueled public discourse.
During the SAG Awards ceremony, Saldaña expressed her gratitude for the union's supportive environment stating, "I am proud to be part of a union... judged by how I speak or what my pronouns are." Her words resonate deeply within the acting community, highlighting the importance of representation both on and off the screen.
Yet, not everyone is as enthusiastic about Emilia Pérez. Critics have pointed out significant issues surrounding Mexican representation. The film's setting is intended to provide authentic insights about life influenced by drug trafficking, gang violence, and the cultural nuances of Mexico. Critics argue, though, questioning if individuals outside the Mexican experience—such as Gascón, who hails from Spain—should be the ones to portray these stories. According to Jacques Audiard, "If there are things Mexicans find scandalous... I apologize," he stated during his interview with CNN en Español, responding to the backlash about cultural representation.
Language has also become a point of contention. Brought to life through the dialogue and musical numbers, the screenplay, penned by Audiard, suffers from criticisms over its Spanish. Due to language barriers, Gascón and French singer Camille, who wrote the songs, relied on translators, resulting in what many describe as awkward and stilted dialogue. Audiard humbly acknowledged these struggles, stating, "Throughout the shoot, we had problems... but we fixed them in the edit. We did a lot of dubbing." Despite the efforts, social media backlash has echoed claims of poor performance from cast members, including Selena Gomez, who, though bilingual, faced scrutiny for her thick Texas accent, leading critics like Eugenio Derbez to call it "indefensible.” Gomez took to TikTok to respond, explaining, "I did the best I could with the time I was..."
GLAAD has denounced Emilia Pérez for its trans representation, marking it as regressive compared to current standards. The film was noticeably not considered for nominations at the GLAAD Media Awards, which honor media for its LGBTQ+ representation. Critics have decried the film’s depiction of gender-affirming surgery as unrealistic. Autostraddle criticized it as "unique cis nonsense" for its reliance on clichés surrounding trans identities.
A particularly contentious aspect revealed by sound designer Cyril Holtz involved the use of AI to alter Gascón’s voice, which some saw as stepping over artistic bounds, especially when dealing with sensitive subjects surrounding identity. "We had to blend the voice of Gascón and Camille," Holtz explained, denoting the film's commitment to auditory authenticity as being challenging yet necessary.
The film's star faced her own backlash as past social media activities resurfaced, causing many to question her credibility as the lead for such culturally sensitive material. Gascón, confronted with criticisms of previous posts about several sociopolitical issues, released a statement asserting, "All my life I have fought for abetter world." This admission, stemming from things shared online, raised eyebrows and led to increased scrutiny of the complex interplay between art and personal history.
Despite these controversies, several individuals within Hollywood maintain their belief in the film's merit. Saldaña's fervent speech at the SAG Awards continues to resonate, emphasizing the value of storytelling rooted in truth and love. Amid the backdrop of awards season, Emilia Pérez remains at the forefront of discussions about representation and authenticity, showcasing both the progress and struggle inherent to storytelling across cultural lines.
With the Academy Awards on the horizon, the film's ability to win could shape the narrative surrounding portrayals of marginalized voices within mainstream cinema as it juggles awards admiration and controversy. Questions remain, will the accolades overshadow the backlash?