What does Mexico really think of ‘Emilia Pérez?'
What does Mexico really think of ‘Emilia Pérez?'
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It may have been embraced by the Academy, but just a day after its debut in Mexico, the acclaimed “narco-musical” Emilia Pérez was already drawing rebukes for superficial portrayals of sensitive subjects. The movie by French director Jacques Audiard debuted in Mexico on Thursday on the heels of wins at Cannes and the Golden Globes, as well at 13 Oscar nominations – a record for a non-English-language film.
The film tells the story of a fictional Mexican drug trafficker nicknamed Manitas del Monte ( Karla Sofia Gascón ), who leaves behind her life of crime by becoming a transgender woman and activist searching for Mexico's thousands of disappeared. But problems arise from Manitas' uncontrollable jealousy toward her ex-wife Jessi (Selena Gomez), despite falling deeply in love with another woman Epifanía (Adriana Paz).
Yet the ambitious “Emilia Pérez” and its star-studded cast met with a fizzle at the box office – 20,000 attendees at its premiere and about US$74,000 (1.5 million pesos) – and mounting criticisms that it was a not-so-faithful portrayal of Mexico that glamorizes the violence that has long plagued the nation.
Viewers filing out of theaters Thursday night said they had been eager or curious to see the movie after hearing it was the most nominated film at the Oscars. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress for Gascón, Best Supporting Actress for Saldaña and two nominations for Best Original Song. That comes after receiving a number of prizes at its world premiere at Cannes and wins in four different categories at the Golden Globes.
