Emilia Pérez controversy grows as Mexicans slam film’s portrayal of cartel violence

Emilia Pérez faces backlash in Mexico for depicting a drug lord’s gender transition.

The musical crime thriller Emilia Perez, directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, has received critical acclaim with multiple Golden Globe wins and 13 Oscar nominations. While celebrated internationally, the film has sparked significant controversy in Mexico due to its portrayal of cartel violence and its handling of the country’s humanitarian crisis.

The film follows the story of a feared drug lord who transitions into a woman and attempts to reunite with her family. While the film presents a unique storyline, its depiction of Mexico’s drug crisis has drawn significant criticism. Despite being set in Mexico, Emilia Perez was filmed in France, with only one Mexican actor, Adriana Paz, in the main cast. Critics argue that by excluding Mexican talent and locations, the film fails to authentically portray the country’s reality.

Mexican journalist Cecilia Gonzalez described the film as a collection of stereotypes and accused it of profiting from a humanitarian crisis. Cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto also criticized its inauthenticity, apart from Paz’s performance. At a press conference, Paz became emotional, revealing that she had been kidnapped nearly two decades ago, highlighting the deeply personal connection many Mexicans have to the film’s subject matter.

The controversy deepened after Mexican writer Jorge Volpi called the film “one of the crudest and most misleading” of the century. He criticized the narrative, which suggests that a violent cartel boss could undergo a gender transition and suddenly become an empathetic advocate for the vulnerable.

While Audiard defends his artistic choices, stating that the film is not meant to be a documentary but an emotional story told through music and melodrama, critics argue that portraying a cartel leader as a human rights advocate distorts a painful reality and trivializes Mexico’s ongoing crisis.