The celebrated film "Emilia Pérez," directed by Jacques Audiard, has captivated the world by earning 13 Oscar nominations, including the coveted best picture category. The film has already secured Golden Globe victories for best motion picture (musical or comedy) and best original song for "El Mal." However, the success of the movie has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón. Her offensive posts, which include Islamophobic and racist remarks, have resurfaced, drawing backlash from audiences and leading to a public apology from Gascón.
Audiard has publicly condemned Gascón's tweets and expressed his frustration, stating that she is "playing the victim." He believes her actions are hurting not only herself but also the dedicated cast and crew who have worked tirelessly on the film.
"I'm thinking in this thing of how hurting others, of how she's hurting the crew and all these people who worked so incredibly hard on this film," – Jacques Audiard.
Despite the turmoil, Audiard stands firm in his support of the film and its team. He has vowed to defend "Emilia Pérez" against criticism, emphasizing that it is an opera, not a critique of Mexico or its culture. Audiard addressed previous criticisms about his depiction of Mexican cartels and language use, asserting that the representation in the film is thematic rather than realistic.
"The representation of the cartels in the film is thematic," – Jacques Audiard.
The director has also faced criticism for his comments on Spanish language and culture. However, he clarified his admiration for the language and his experience making films in non-native cultures.
"Spanish is such a rich language that crosses borders. What's been said about my statement is actually exactly the opposite of what I think." – Jacques Audiard.
In response to the backlash, Audiard has decided not to communicate with Gascón at this time, believing she needs space to reflect on her actions.
"I'm not getting in touch with her because right now she needs space to reflect and take accountability for her actions." – Jacques Audiard.
Gascón has responded to the controversy by sharing a statement with Variety, expressing remorse for the pain her comments have caused. She highlighted her lifelong commitment to creating a better world and remains hopeful that positivity will prevail over negativity.
"All my life I have fought for a better world," – Karla Sofía Gascón.
"I believe light will always triumph over darkness." – Karla Sofía Gascón.
The film industry has also recognized Karla Sofía Gascón's performance, nominating her for best actress for her role in "Emilia Pérez." Zoe Saldaña, another key member of the cast, won the Golden Globe for best performance by a female actor in a supporting role in any motion picture.
Despite its accolades, "Emilia Pérez" has encountered significant scrutiny. Audiard defended his artistic vision, emphasizing the film's non-realistic nature and distancing it from documentary filmmaking.
"I've never claimed that I wanted to make a realistic work. If I wanted to make a work that was particularly documented, then I would do a documentary, but then there would be no singing and dancing." – Jacques Audiard.
Audiard expressed dismay over criticisms that he perceives as stemming from misunderstanding or bad faith.
"What shocked me is that either people haven't seen the film properly, or they haven't seen it at all and are acting in bad faith," – Jacques Audiard.
He lamented the negative attention affecting a project he invested significant time and effort into over five years.
"I worked five years on this film and for it to now be denigrated in this way, it's really simply too much." – Jacques Audiard.
Audiard remains committed to promoting "Emilia Pérez," recalling that initial reactions were positive before recent controversies surfaced.
"I've been working on promoting this film for a long time, since before Cannes, and the reactions that we're seeing now did not exist then and did not exist for a long time." – Jacques Audiard.
