WASHINGTON — The film “Emilia Pérez” has emerged as one of the most talked-about movies of the year, sparking debate about representation, cultural storytelling and artistic interpretation.
Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, the movie musical portrays a provocative narrative centered on a Mexican drug lord’s dramatic transformation.
The film follows Manitas Del Monte, a drug lord who undergoes gender-affirming surgery to become Emilia Pérez, subsequently faking her own death and attempting to reconnect with her family.
Despite critical acclaim, including awards at the Golden Globes and Oscar nominations, “Emilia Pérez” has been mired in significant controversy.
According to BBC Culture, the film faces multiple contentious issues including limited Mexican representation in its cast and crew, a problematic portrayal of Mexico and cartel violence, criticism from LGBTQ+ organizations regarding transgender representation and overall concerns about cultural appropriation by a non-Mexican director.
“Emilia Pérez” is entirely fictional, not based on actual events or a real person. Director and writer Jacques Audiard told W magazine the idea for the movie and lead character came to him through a book called Écoute [Listen].
“Halfway through, there is a character who is a drug kingpin who wants to transition to become a woman. The author, who is a friend of mine, did not develop this character. I asked for the right to expand the character myself,” he told the outlet.
Reviews for the Oscar-nominated film remain mixed, with some critics praising its powerful narrative while others condemn it as offensive and cartoonish.
“Emilia Pérez” dominated the Oscar nominations with a leading 13 nominations, including best picture and best actress for Karla Sofía Gascón, making her the first openly trans actor ever nominated for an Oscar. The film also landed nominations for directing, original screenplay, two of its songs and for Zoe Saldaña.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.