'Emilia Pérez' director Jacques Audiard apologizes to Mexicans who found the film offensive

The upcoming release of Emilia Pérez in Mexico has sparked mixed reactions. While some viewers are excited about the award-winning production, others have criticized how certain themes are portrayed. Starring Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Adriana Paz, the film has raised questions and concerns, particularly about its depiction of Mexican culture.

Despite its success, Emilia Perez has shocked many, with people, especially Mexicans, and Mexican-Americans, less than pleased by the way the French director handled the story about a cartel leader who fakes her death to live life as a trans woman. 

While Audiard said he had no "desire" to offend Mexicans, it still happened. Addressing the controversy, Audiard offered an apology to CNN en Español, saying, “If there are things that seem scandalous to Mexicans in Emilia, I apologize. What I want to say is that I’m not even trying to offer answers-cinema doesn’t provide answers- it only raises questions.”

Audiard on the Film’s Controversy

While promoting the film in Mexico City, Audiard responded to criticism about its themes, which include musicals and the portrayal of drug trafficking. He explained his artistic approach: “If I have to choose between the truth and the legend, I prefer to write the legend. What I mean is, from the moment you situate yourself in a form like opera—which is what I aimed for with this film—opera is not realistic.”

Acknowledging the polarized reactions, he added: “Maybe the questions Emilia raises are incorrect, but I found them interesting. I didn’t want or intend to be pretentious; I just thought the questions in Emilia are universal.”

Why Wasn’t Emilia Pérez Filmed in Mexico?

One major point of contention has been the decision to shoot the film in Europe rather than Mexico. Audiard explained the logistical challenges: “I came here to scout locations. At that time, I fully intended to film the entire movie here, in natural locations. But in the end, I couldn’t… There were more financial resources available in France. However, the artistic director came to Mexico to conduct research and found many elements here. We even held rehearsals in Mexico.”

The Inspiration Behind Emilia Pérez

As for where the rollercoaster and, at times, fever dream-like idea came from, Audiard revealed it was inspired by Boris Razón’s novel Écoute. After reading it, he envisioned a film centered on a drug lord transitioning to life as a woman. “I asked Razón for permission to adapt the story. In Mexico and Latin America—like Colombia, for example—there’s drug trafficking. Yes, it exists elsewhere too, but the character in the novel is Mexican. Even though I don’t speak Spanish, I find its musicality beautiful and wanted to create an opera in Spanish," he explained. 

While Emilia Perez beat Wicked at the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, the backlash for the movie has only heightened. Movie buffs are waiting at the edge of their seats to see if the Academy Awards reward the film with nominations.