Zoe Saldaña argues that the Emilia Pérez backlash gets the movie wrong following her Oscar win. Written and directed by the French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, Netflix’s controversial crime musical follows the тιтular Mexican cartel leader who enlists the help of a lawyer to secretly undergo gender-affirming surgery, fake her own death, and start a new life as her authentic self. Emilia Pérez‘s cast includes Zoe Saldaña as the lawyer, who won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, alongside Karla Sofía Gascón as the тιтular character, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz.
In the Oscar winners press room, where ScreenRant‘s Tatiana Hullender was in attendance, Zoe Saldaña defended Emilia Pérez against the backlash following her win for Best Supporting Actress. She was asked specifically about the movie’s depiction of Mexico, which many found to be offensive, but Saldaña argued that “the heart of this movie was not Mexico” and is instead “a film about four women.” Read her full comments below, with the second quote originally delivered in Spanish and translated by SR:
First of all, I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke and we came from a place of love, and I will stand by that. I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We weren’t making a film about a country. We were making a film about four women, and 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. These women are still very universal women that are struggling every day at trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find their most authentic voices. So, I will stand by that, but I’m also always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, with love and respect, having a great conversation on how Emilia could have been done better. I have no problem [with that]. I welcome it.
Art doesn’t follow a manual; what art follows is love, one’s heart, and light itself. When one wants to enter conversations they don’t necessarily understand, once they do, it brings more voices to the table. I think that’s what Jacques Audiard did. this movie is not based on real life, and I would do it over again a thousand times if I had to. This is a very important film, and a very beautiful film that was made with a lot of love. I can only speak to that because that was my experience.
Of course, the backlash hurt. You make something with a completely open heart, and when it’s not well-received, you’re left confused and wondering why. But once you explore and process it, you have to make a decision. And I’ve decided to always follow my heart. I know I’m a [kind] person, and all the conversations I want to have in my art are about humanity, I have no regrets.
What Zoe Saldaña’s Comments Mean For The Emilia Pérez Backlash
The Movie Isn’t Meant To Represent Mexico
The backlash to Emilia Pérez has been on many different fronts. First off, the film has been widely panned in Mexico, where the movie takes place, facing criticism for its cultural portrayal and stereotypes. Many in the LGBTQ+ community have also criticized Emilia Pérez for its handling of the тιтular trans character and her story arc. These controversies were only amplified by Emilia Pérez receiving 13 Oscar nominations, the most for any movie this year, followed by Karla Sofía Gascón’s controversial tweets resurfacing, which essentially tanked its chances of winning in the bigger categories.
Though the backlash has been multifaceted, Zoe Saldaña is only defending the film against one of these controversies regarding its depiction of Mexico. The actress argues that Emilia Pérez isn’t meant to be about Mexico, but rather four women facing systemic oppression and trying to find their authentic selves, arguing that the characters could be from any background since their struggles are universal. Saldaña stands by the film’s intent, but continues to welcome an open dialogue with Mexican people about how they could have done better.
Our Take On The Emilia Pérez Backlash
It Should Finally Be Over
Considering all the backlash to the movie, capped off by Gascón’s controversial tweets refurfacing, it’s been a nightmarish awards season for Emilia Pérez. However, as the Oscars represent the end of award season, this should also spell the end of the many controversies surrounding Emilia Pérez. It’s probably for the best since, as audiences have argued, the movie has done more harm than good regarding its depiction of Mexico and LGBTQ+ people. While Saldaña undoubtedly deserves her award, Emilia Pérez perhaps might be a movie that is better off forgotten.
