“Emilia Pérez,” the film about a transgender Mexican cartel leader reconciling with her past, leads the Academy Awards this year with an impressive 13 nominations, the most for any non-English language film. However, its reception in Mexico has been a stark contrast, with widespread criticism directed at how it depicts the nation and its struggles with cartel violence.
Released in Mexico only on January 23, five months after its debut in France and two months after the U.S., the film has struggled to fill theater seats. Many moviegoers are voicing their dissatisfaction loudly, some even requesting refunds. The controversy intensified following comments from the film’s French writer-director Jacques Audiard regarding the Spanish language, which many found dismissive.
Additionally, lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón's remarks about Islam and George Floyd have further fueled criticism. While the film has generated a plethora of social media memes and even sparked a parody that gained popularity online, its critics—including the families of violence victims—believe it fails to accurately portray Mexican culture. Francisco Peredo Castro, a film expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, has called the film a "real disaster," encapsulating the sentiment of many in the country as the film contemplates its Academy Awards fate amid backlash.
