'Emilia Perez’ wins big with 2025 Academy Award nominations

Why watch Emilia Perez? An Oscar-nominated film written and directed by Jacque Audiard tells the story of an underappreciated lawyer in her associations with a dark high society mixed with a musical theme. Netflix yet scores again in an Oscar-nominated film with the setting in Mexico, but this time produced by a French production company.

The film brought on an ensemble of a stellar cast that includes Zoe Saldana, Karla Sofia Gascon, and Selena Gomez, whom all did a great job on the film. Saldana fit the profile of a Mexican lawyer working for low wages and sought to thrive as the opportunity came to her. Gascon played the role perfectly as a cartel kingpin turned transgender. Gomez’s role was perfect as a Mexican American who fled to Mexico seeking the life of her dreams.

Emilia Perez showcases the types of everyday people that live in Mexico cast around the mid-to-low end of society, including the dark sides associated with organized crime. The Netflix original faced criticism from the Mexican audience for its lack of authenticity in its portrayal of Mexico in a real setting.

The Emilia Perez storyline

Rita (Saldana) has worked tirelessly as a lawyer for so many years, being overlooked and undervalued. Opportunity comes knocking on her door as she meets a cartel kingpin who’s looking to stage his own death and take on his identity as a transgender woman as Emilia (Gascon).

As she explores the dark world, Rita begins to learn about the perks and territories when given opportunities to thrive. Emilia comes into conflict with the mother of her children from her pre-transgender life, Jessi (Gomez).

The daily life in Mexico showcases the differences between the rich and the poor including connections to the dark world. Emilia Perez sets the tone to give an idea of what life is like south of the border. 

Reactions to the film

Members of the film community, including Mexican director Guillermo Del Toro, have praised the film for its work. Its run for Best Picture showcases how the cast made a major difference to drive an audience and the meaning of the storyline.

Emilia Perez drew criticisms from the Mexican audience for its authenticity of the country and the use of transgender practices in the story. It is common for cartel kingpins to attempt to stage their own death in Mexico, but a transgender attempt has never been notable. 

Criticism of the cast came into the context of the leading actresses who weren’t of Mexican or Mexican upbringing, including Gomez, whose Mexican American was born and raised in Texas. Audiard came under fire for the portrayal of the people of Mexico since he doesn’t speak Spanish. The setting of Mexico was done in Europe with backdrops of the country.

The story of Emilia Perez won the praise of the majority of film industrial professionals regardless of the stances of the critics. Gascon is the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for an Academy Award.

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