Zoe Saldaña's recent triumph at the 97th Academy Awards turned complicated during the post-ceremony press interactions, as the star faced criticism related to her role in the film Emilia Pérez shortly after winning the Best Supporting Actress award. Saldaña's victory marked her historic win as the first American of Dominican origin to take home the prestigious Oscar. With 13 nominations, Emilia Pérez was already under scrutiny for its controversial portrayal of trans individuals and its insensitivity toward Mexican cultural representation.
While reveling at the Dolby Theatre, Saldaña encountered journalist Cristina Ibañez, who raised concerns about how the film's depiction of Mexicans was received by audiences. Ibañez pointedly noted, "The movie has been hurtful for us Mexicans," prompting Saldaña to issue a somewhat dismissive apology. "First of all, I’m very, very sorry many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love," she stated. Yet, she added, "I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about four women."
The film revolves around Rita (Saldaña), who is tasked with representing Mexico’s Emilia Pérez (played by Karla Sofía Gascón), who transitions through gender-affirming surgery and fakes her death to escape cartel life. GLAAD and other advocacy organizations have pointed out glaring flaws, particularly how the film perpetuates stereotypes instead of advocating for nuanced portrayals of trans identities. Saldaña's remarks did little to alleviate the backlash, as her comments appeared to alienate both the Mexican and LGBTQ+ communities.
Responding to similar criticism, Gascón suggested, "If you don’t like it, go and make your own movie. Go create the representation you want to see for your community." This retort from the cast only magnified the feeling among many audiences about the industry's disregard for the communities they portray.
Saldaña's subsequent comments continued to spark debate. The actress argued the film's central theme transcended geographical bounds: “These women could have been Russian, could have been Dominican, could have been Black from Detroit, could have been from Israel, could have been from Gaza,” she noted, emphasizing universality among women's experiences amid oppression. Nonetheless, advocates insist there should have been more recognition and depth when addressing marginalized groups depicted within the narrative.
Despite winning just two Oscars for Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song for "El Mal," Emilia Pérez was overshadowed by surprise winners like Anora, illustrating the disparity between public anticipation and audience reception. Critics have also explored how the film’s controversies affected its Oscar performance compared to victories at the 50th Césars ceremony, where it won seven awards, including Best Film and Best Director.
The perception of Emilia Pérez reflects broader cultural divides. Césars voters seemed unfazed by past controversies surrounding Gascón’s resurfaced derogatory tweets, attributing the film’s success to both Audiard's reputation and weaker competition. By comparison, the Oscar voters' sensitivity to social concerns generated significant scrutiny on cast responses to community criticisms.
Saldaña did recognize her responsibilities as someone with visibility, saying, "I’m also always open to… sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, with love and respect, to have [a] great conversation on how Emilia Pérez could have been done with more nuance.” By putting the film’s themes of systemic oppression and struggles with authenticity4 against the backdrop of the current sociopolitical climate, her comments attract both support for their intentions and criticism for their execution.
The state of representation for marginalized communities within the entertainment industry remains fraught with challenges. Activists argue changes need to start behind the cameras and involve collaborations with diverse voices from those communities, ensuring authentic narratives are presented rather than mere caricatures. At the end of the day, films like Emilia Pérez should aspire to fulfill not only entertainment needs but also societal responsibilities to push against the tide of bigotry, especially during such tumultuous times.