Emilia Perez’s success in the United States: why is the French film controversial? Explanations

Jacques Audiard’s Emilia Perez continues to collect awards across the Atlantic. Overnight Sunday through Monday, the musical drama collected no fewer than four Golden Globes — including best foreign language film and best musical or comedy. A success that confirms the enthusiasm that the feature film generated at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the best actress prize for four actors and the jury prize.

If Emilia Peres won the critics and a large part of the audience, others do not like the film. But for what reasons exactly? First of all, there is a certain voice against the discriminatory representation of transidentity on screen. To remind you, the story tells about the leader of the Mexican cartel (Carla Sofia Gascon), who with the help of a lawyer (Zoe Saldana) will rebuild his life after the revolution.

Emilia Perez… a transphobic film?

LGBT+ media them On January 3, a conversation between three critics was published under the title: “Emilia Perez is a really bad movie. Why do you love award ceremonies so much?In the article, three critics acknowledge the importance of casting a transgender actress, Carla Sofia Gascon, in the role – which, despite everything, is quite rare.

They further criticize the treatment of transidentity and its use to deceive the characters – in the film, Emilia switches identities to live a new life without revealing her past. usage that they believe reinforces negative stereotypes about transidentity. In their conversation, critics even compare the film to a lady. fire of doubt

In an article published in November 2024, the site delighted – Association that fights LGBT+ discrimination in the media – writes:Emilia Perez is not good trans representation“, certifies that it is”retreat“And that transgender people are portrayed as”Liars“,”Those who don’t know who they are“.

In May 2024, in Cannes, AlloCiné met Carla Sofia Gascon after the first screening of the film:

Katya Zamolodchikova, famous drag queen on X Even publishing a post Against director Jacques Audiard at the Golden Globes:I want to throw a big bowl of cold soup in this Frenchman’s face.” The message was “liked” by more than 40,000 users. Other posts posted by ordinary Internet users are part of this feud.

Some weird media like Pink NewsStill, it came to the film’s defense, reminding us how much its success has allowed trans actresses like Carla Sofia Gascon to exist and shine in an industry that doesn’t usually make room for transgender people.

One confrontation, then two…

Another controversy is added to this. The Mexican public points to the award for best foreign-language film and worries that Emilia Perez is a film about Mexicans, shot in France, that revives many stereotypes – such as linking Mexican identity to the activities of cartel leaders.

Mexican actor Mauricio Martinez posted the following message on January 6:

“When Mexicans tell you that a movie set in Mexico City, directed by a Frenchman who has never set foot in Mexico City and who says he didn’t need to do any research for the movie, portrays Mexicans with many stereotypes, ignorance, lack. Respecting and taking advantage of one of the most important human problems in the world (mass disappearances)…maybe…believe the Mexicans? That the actors don’t even speak Spanish is the least of the problems.”

Emilia Perez, who will be seen by more than a million French viewers in cinemas, should bring in big money at the next Oscar ceremony, whose nominations will be announced on January 17.