Zoe Saldaña, who just took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress after sweeping awards season, has apologized to Mexicans who were offended by the film, “Emilia Pérez.”
The musical drama about a cartel leader who fakes his own death to undergo “gender-affirming surgery” and start a new life had the most Academy Award nominations this year, with 13 total, but wound up only winning two. The film was a frontrunner early on, but was plagued by controversy, including some from Mexicans who thought they were unfairly stereotyped in the movie.
“First of all, I’m very, very sorry that many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love,” Saldaña told the press in the Oscars interview room on Sunday night, per Variety. “I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about friendship. We were making a film about four women.”
“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,” she added. “And these women are still very universal women that are struggling every day, but trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find the 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, [to have] a great conversation on how ‘Emilia Pérez’ could have been done better. I welcome it.”
Saldaña spoke about coming from a family of immigrants during her acceptance speech earlier in the night. “My grandmother came to this country in 1961 — I am a proud child of immigrant parents. With dreams and dignity and hard-working hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last. I hope. The fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish — my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted, this is for my grandmother.”
The film was criticized for having a French director and being filmed exclusively in France. The director also admitted to not doing much research before making the film. “I didn’t study [Mexico] much,” Jacques Audiard said during an interview that went viral on X. “What I needed to know I already knew a little bit.”
Mexican viewers said the portrayal of their country is inaccurate and damaging, particularly when it comes to the portrayal of drug cartels. Viewers also lamented the fact that none of the cast members were Mexican, reigniting a familiar argument about casting actors in roles that don’t match their nationality.
“Emilia Pérez is a case study in how to combine every cliché, ignorance, and lack of respect toward one of the most serious humanitarian crises of our time. Poorly acted, with a weak script, and a disastrously executed musical,” one person wrote.
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[[{“value”:”
Zoe Saldaña, who just took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress after sweeping awards season, has apologized to Mexicans who were offended by the film, “Emilia Pérez.”
The musical drama about a cartel leader who fakes his own death to undergo “gender-affirming surgery” and start a new life had the most Academy Award nominations this year, with 13 total, but wound up only winning two. The film was a frontrunner early on, but was plagued by controversy, including some from Mexicans who thought they were unfairly stereotyped in the movie.
“First of all, I’m very, very sorry that many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love,” Saldaña told the press in the Oscars interview room on Sunday night, per Variety. “I don’t share your opinion. For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about friendship. We were making a film about four women.”
“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,” she added. “And these women are still very universal women that are struggling every day, but trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find the 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, [to have] a great conversation on how ‘Emilia Pérez’ could have been done better. I welcome it.”
Saldaña spoke about coming from a family of immigrants during her acceptance speech earlier in the night. “My grandmother came to this country in 1961 — I am a proud child of immigrant parents. With dreams and dignity and hard-working hands, and I am the first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award, and I know I will not be the last. I hope. The fact that I’m getting an award for a role where I got to sing and speak in Spanish — my grandmother, if she were here, she would be so delighted, this is for my grandmother.”
The film was criticized for having a French director and being filmed exclusively in France. The director also admitted to not doing much research before making the film. “I didn’t study [Mexico] much,” Jacques Audiard said during an interview that went viral on X. “What I needed to know I already knew a little bit.”
Mexican viewers said the portrayal of their country is inaccurate and damaging, particularly when it comes to the portrayal of drug cartels. Viewers also lamented the fact that none of the cast members were Mexican, reigniting a familiar argument about casting actors in roles that don’t match their nationality.
“Emilia Pérez is a case study in how to combine every cliché, ignorance, and lack of respect toward one of the most serious humanitarian crises of our time. Poorly acted, with a weak script, and a disastrously executed musical,” one person wrote.
“}]]
