Maybe… just maybe, believe Mexicans.
Others have criticized the films portrayal of transness as an outdated, regression of trans people onscreen.
A Netflix rep declined to comment.
Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez, Selena Gomez, Jacques Audiard, Karla Sofía Gascón, and Zoe Saldana (from left), winners of the Best Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy award for “Emilia Pérez,” at the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 5, 2025, in Beverly Hills, California.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
We had to adjust authenticity … with the accents, with them not being native Mexican.
However, in the film, the actress clear Spaniard accent often sneaks through.
If I were to speak in my typical accent to you, youd die.
Rita, on paper, was supposed to be of Mexican origin, Saldana recentlytoldW Magazine.
However, Gomez has been criticized for her questionable,pochaaccent in the film.
Gomez plays Jessi, the wife of Gascons character pre-transition, Manitas.
Gomez sneaks in a few lines in English to back up that storyline.
I definitely wish I had more time [to prep], Gomez toldRemezclaabout learning Spanish for the role.
The experience was in a way reconnecting.
Im grateful for it.
If anything, I hope this isnt [the] last thing I do in Spanish.
Selena is indefensible, Derbez told podcast host Gaby Meza last month.
Doesnt take away from how much work and heart I put into this movie.
Derbez then apologized for his initial comment, calling it careless.
Viewers critiqued both her pronunciation, and the written dialogue in Gomezs lines.
The filmwas even selectedas the countrys Best International Feature Film at the 97th Oscars.
We did location scouting.
We did some casting.
Like wow, what is this.
While speaking toRolling Stonein October, Gascon mentioned that the Mexican people onset already had the French accent.
I think this movie is more Mexican than what many Mexicans make, Gascon said.
Gascons statement aligned with Mexican filmmaker Issa Lopezs take on the film.
MexicanThe Shape of Waterdirector Guillermo Del Toro also previously praised the film, calling the musical beautiful.
To recap: The musicals protagonist fakes her own death to live honestly as a woman.
She pushed for the film to include more complexity around the trans experience.
If Manitas transitioned just to flee justice, she said, then the entire thing wouldve been a joke.
It wouldve been a pure comedy for people to laugh in theaters without anything transcendental.
It wouldve been a film that the LGBTQ community wouldve said, What is this?
