A Standing Ovation for Stereotypes? 'Emilia Pérez' Representation Issue

By: Kathiuska Vergara

Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón and Selena Gomez appear in a dramatic advertisement for 'Emilia Pérez.' (Netflix)

The most recent Oscars event, as in previous years, showcased a wide variety of amazing films from across the globe, uniting media professionals and viewers in a single evening to honor the efforts of actors, musicians and other talents. 

This year, there were many remarkable films adored by the audience and acclaimed by critics, such as the adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” the innovative horror film “The Substance” and the highly anticipated sequel in the classic “Dune” saga. But there were also films nominated for the award show that left viewers at home feeling confused and disappointed… Specifically, “Emilia Pérez,” which has provoked a notable amount of negative reactions to its nomination and victories at the Oscars.

But why is it that the Latino and international communities are having such bad responses? 

There have been multiple reasons behind this colossal rejection, most of them involving questionable actions and decisions from the French director Jacques Audiard. 

Firstly, the movie is supposed to take place in Mexico. Still, Audiard and the production team filmed in France, making this situation confusing since the cultural and social environments of these countries are completely different.

In the same way, the actors hired to take the roles of people from Mexico are mostly Europeans and Americans. In the film, there is only one Mexican actress, Adriana Paz, who plays the role of a secondary character called Epifanía, a widow and love interest of the main character. The lack of native-Mexican actors has raised discomfort and offense toward Mexican audiences, drawing criticism since some actors lack Spanish fluency, and because they are giving preference to non-locals while we have seen the seen the rise of amazing Mexican artists like Damián Alcázar (Narcos, Netflix) and Eiza González (La Máquina, Hulu). 

But what truly unleashed backlash in the internet and social media were the declarations Audiard made about Spanish as a language. In an interview with Konbini Media Group, the French director said, “Spanish is a language of modest countries, of developing countries, of the poor and migrants” – a statement that is not only based on an ignorant point of view but is also a way to offend a country whose culture and history are full of richness, consequently disrespecting Mexican people and their heritage. Audiard’s remarks about the Spanish language reveal a fact that seems to be forgotten sometimes, the disconnect between filmmakers and the cultures they seek to portray.

The controversy around Emilia Pérez highlights a persisting issue in western and international cinema, the misinterpretation and representation of cultures, as well as the exclusion of native talents from their own stories.

While the goal of the Oscars is to award and celebrate artistic achievement, they also have to carry the moral and professional mission of reminding the media industry that they must respect the identities of the communities they try to portray. In this year's awards, the academy failed to uphold these ideals, making the event feel like an unserious joke and a reminder of the constant disregard of authentic representation.