I’ll begin with two disclaimers.
First, this review is written by a Mexican writer who worked for several years writing scripts for films, series, TV shows and at a major newspaper. I left this profession when streaming platforms asked me to portray a drug lord as a hero, when TV networks requested that I justify the military’s presence on the streets of Mexico and when my newspaper edited my articles and manipulated figures regarding online campaign expenses for presidential candidates — money that seemed to come from nowhere.
Second, it’s important to recognize that films and television shows have a powerful influence on how we perceive the world. Audiovisual media professionals carry a significant responsibility to thoughtfully consider both what we portray and how we present it on screen. This is why I was so disappointed to see French director Jaques Audiard’s musical comedy “Emilia Pérez” win best film in the comedy and musical category at the Golden Globes on Sunday.
Why do some Mexicans dislike “Emilia Pérez“ so much?
The problem isn’t that “Emilia Pérez” is a comedy. This isn’t the first time a comedy about drug trafficking has been made. “El Infierno,” directed by Luis Estrada in 2010, is one of the most popular films in Mexico. The character of El Cochiloco, known for his outrageous lines, has become unforgettable to a generation.
This issue isn’t that I think only Mexicans can discuss Mexican issues. “La Civil,” one of the most powerful films regarding the search for mothers and the government’s failure to address cases of forced disappearance was directed by Romanian filmmaker Teodora Mihai. “La Civil” is a deeply moving film, and its impact is heightened by the perspective of an outsider.
Though it’s caught a lot of flack, the issue isn’t even Selena Gomez’s accent. Every non-native speaker faces challenges when learning a new language. While someone like Eiza González, who has an impeccable command of both Spanish and English, could have been a great choice for the role of the drug lord’s spouse, having Selena Gomez in the cast definitely brings a level of star power.
Does “Emilia Pérez” celebrate narcos?
Personally — and I think many in Mexico feel the same way — it bothers me deeply when drug traffickers are presented as heroes, as happens in shows like “Narcos,” “El Chapo” and “El Señor de los Cielos.”
Turning the country’s biggest security crisis into a musical where the protagonist is one of the perpetrators of that crisis shows a profound lack of respect. Think about the worst crisis of violence in your country in recent years. Now imagine if a foreign director made a film about one of the perpetrators of that violence attempting to redeem themselves, turning reality on its head and solving the crisis they actually helped create. As if that weren’t enough, imagine if that film were marketed as a musical comedy. For me, that was “Emilia Pérez,” and watching this trivialization was deeply painful.
The plot of “Emilia Pérez” involves the title character, a former drug lord, setting up a nonprofit to search for the bodies of victims of forced disappearance. There are 121,290 victims of this crime in Mexico, according to the National Registry of Missing Persons (RNPDNO). The true number is in all likelihood higher, however. Organizations that deal with the forced disappearance crisis have drawn attention to systemic underreporting of the disappeared. In addition to organized crime, state forces are also responsible for this crisis.
Victims of forced disappearance are often uninvolved in criminal activities. Many are ordinary citizens, including businesspeople, journalists, doctors, nurses, lawyers and public officials. Women, children, disabled people, migrants and poor people in general are particularly vulnerable to being forcibly disappeared. Watching “Emilia Pérez,” the reality of this situation was too stark to ignore.
What message does this film send?
Director Jacques Audiard explained that he needed a hyper-masculine context to effectively transition into a feminine world. However, could he not have chosen a businessman or politician instead? I believe that a story about the experiences of transgender people could have been just as impactful without relying on the painful cliché of a Mexico that revolves around drug lords.
When crafting a script, it is essential to clearly define protagonists and antagonists. The characters can be as complex as you want, and they should be deeply human, displaying both strengths and flaws. To generate empathy with the audience, you need to appeal to the emotions the characters evoke through their conflicts and actions.
Portraying the leader of a cartel as a redeemed character, as Audiard’s film does, conveys a powerful message. It suggests, perhaps unintentionally, that traffickers are just as human as anyone else, that they simply want to live their lives, that they are parents too, that they can be benefactors and good people.
The recognition of narratives like this by Hollywood sends a troubling message of acceptance towards a narco-culture that many Mexicans are striving to erase from the international imagination. While watching the film, I couldn’t shake the thought that our social crisis is not being taken seriously, and this portrayal almost feels like a humiliating mockery of our reality.
Is there anything good about “Emilia Pérez”?
The cinematography and production design are impeccable, creating an atmosphere that resembles Mexico even though much of the filming took place in a studio in Paris. Additionally, Karla Sofía Gascón and Zoë Saldaña deliver outstanding performances, showcasing their talents as excellent actresses.
Some Mexicans liked “Emilia Pérez,” notably Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro, who called director Audiard “one of the most amazing filmmakers alive.”
Del Toro lives in Los Angeles. Maybe those of us in Mexico upset by “Emilia Pérez” are too close to the conflict. For us, the impunity enjoyed by those responsible for over 300,000 dead and 121,000 missing isn’t material for a comedy.
María Meléndez is a Mexico City food blogger and influencer.
I’m with you, sister!
Sure you are….but you are also Wrong! The fraudulent “War Against Drugs” and its casualties are all forseeable consequences of a corrupt US policy and the DEA. The cartel strivers are just entrepreneurs in this US-driven tragic farce. México, Colombia and Ecuador must courageously legalize ALL Drugs….Now. Saludos desde Acapulco!
Wouldn’t that legalization be more impactful in the US?
It’s reasonable to think that legalization wouldn’t resolve the problem of criminal involvement in the drug trade in Mexico. Consider, for example, their involvement in the commercialization of avocados and limones.
I bet this reviewer did not like Springtime for Hitler either
“Bialystock & Blüme!”
My immediate reaction.
Could not disagree more with reviewer.
Though I haven’t seem the film, I concur with this very well written opinion that I sympathize with. Hollywood trivializes everything to broadly appeal to the masses, leaving informed thinkers with little to truly engage their minds.
Imagine remaking The Godfather with blonde, Swedish actors speaking broken English with Oxbridge accents. And film the entire thing in a Chinese sound studio. Add AI music based on the music of Oklahoma! and there you have it. A GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER!!!
Great review! I don’t like narco series that glorify criminals. But I guess I’ll have to watch this one to form an opinion.
Some?
You mean all MEXICO!! In my work everyone hated to film, I’m Mexican who lives in Mexico
I know this is paid review, lie’s everybody
The reviewer makes a solid case for her opinions; this article motivated me to go an see the movie so I can form my own opinion.
I don’t think the movie portrayed Emilia Perez as a hero, per se. She was the main character, but deeply flawed, and although one could see her human qualities, the same qualities that made her a commanding and ruthless drug lord arose again and made her a controlling, violent person in terms of her estranged wife. Ultimatey, she failed. Her greed and need to have what she wanted on her terms exclusively came through.
In other words, the change of appearance and all that money could buy, and the desire to be good is not enough without the hard work of changing your worst personality flaws and character traits.
Outward changes and a desire to change are not enough.
I think rehabilitation is hard, and unfortunately, many, maybe even most, don’t change. I do believe some do, though. Not that it erases the harm they’ve done.
I agree with your sensible observations Christine.
In addition, every country in the world has genocide being perpetrated by greedy clans within those countries. The reasons are driven by openly-celebrated international greed.
Anybody who follows the News is aware of the powerful corruption embedded in politics and corporations in today’s world and that without citizens themselves actively standing up against this, blaming a movie is cheap journalism.
I think the writer lays out some strong points in her review. I appreciate her perspective and willingness to share.
I hadn’t even heard of this film until it won so many awards. I quickly looked for the trailer on YouTube, and am still in the “…I’m sorry, what did you say this is about?” stage.
Like the author, I deeply resent the glorification of narco culture through mainstream series; can we please not make them famous and veritable god-like archetypes? I refuse to watch those series, as it’s just too much. If you’re responsible for the indiscriminate deaths and disappearances of millions of people, you don’t get to grasp on to this “oh, but we’re human, too!” narrative.
What we need is a comedy by a French man that takes place in Palestine. How an Arab becomes an Israeli.
Me? It’s a MOVIE. I’m just going to sit down and enjoy it.
I really appreciate María’s perspective. Film and television do have a profound influence on how we perceive the world–and our neighbors. To me, as someone who loves Mexico and her people, any trivialization of the pain and suffering caused by drug cartels, and especially the disappearance of so many, is profoundly regrettable.
That’s what happens when foreigners perpetuate stereotypes about a country rich in history culture and resilience.
Estoy de acuerdo contigo. Tal vez necesitamos un director Mexicano para hacer una comedia musical sobre los traficantes y adictos a la metanfetamina y el fentanilo gringos y la insistencia de Trump en que México es responsable. Me encantaría verla, especialmente si el actor que interpreta a Trump canta sobre su angustia por su pueblo mientras se enfrenta a la presidenta Sheinbaum.
So a failed film writer has an opinion about someone else’s work, Emilia Perez is not a documentary, it’s one story, A very well crafted story, visually beautiful. the director told a very good story, and it’s pretty incredible that the entire film was shot on sound stages in Paris, that’s amazing film making. If you don’t like a movie, don’t watch it, but to bash someone else’s creativity is just petty.
You have to remember this is a movie, not real life. Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that movies are real. But that just goes to show you how ignorant the majority the population really is around the world. Narcos should never be glorified as any other type of terrorist that take the live of innocent people. Hollywood will always go after the bucks and use A list actors if they can get them. But again, this is fantasy, not real life. So we must continue the fight against Narcos and the others that create the rabbit holes that mini never returned from. I have seen most of those TV series such as Narcos, etc., and I do not believe they made me feel that the Narcos are verified and they are benevolent people that just want to help other people. I know those people do not value lives and they will take as many as they need to in order to remain in power and to grow their wealth. So I believe that a movie like this will not change how people feel about the terrible things done by Narcos so if you believe this is real, then you oughta live in Disneyland, where every day is a magic day.
You have to remember this is a movie, not real life. Unfortunately, there are many people who believe that movies are real. But that just goes to show you how ignorant the majority the population really is around the world. Narcos should never be glorified just as any other type of terrorist that take the lives of innocent people. Hollywood will always go after the bucks and use A list actors if they can get them. But again, this is fantasy, not real life. So we must continue the fight against Narcos and the others that create the rabbit holes that many never return. I have seen most of those TV series such as Narcos, etc., but they never made me feel that Narcos are just ordinary and benevolent people that just want to help other people. I know those people do not value lives and they will take as many as they need to in order to remain in power and grow their wealth. So I believe that a movie like this will not change how people feel about the terrible things done by Narcos. So if you believe this is real, then you oughta live in Disneyland, where every day is a magic day. BTW I live part time in CDMX and am married to a Mexican and my dad’s side of the family is Mexican.
Sorry for dup.
Spoiler alert: the “reformed narco” gets their comeuppance.