(Image: Netflix, Warner Bros. Pictures)
Netflix's major awards season contender, "Emilia Pérez," has enjoyed a strong run, from winning the Jury Prize and Best Actress award at last year's Cannes Film Festival to a major sweep at this year's Golden Globes. The film took home four awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song, and Best Non-English Language Film. However, the film has been met with overwhelming hatred from the general audience, who have flooded the internet with scathing reviews. The backlash has only intensified following its Golden Globes victory.
(Image: Pathé)
Since its release on Netflix in various countries last November, "Emilia Pérez" has faced a tidal wave of criticism. Despite its focus on the Latino community, the film was directed by acclaimed French director Jacques Audiard, who is unfamiliar with Latino culture. Viewers have pointed out that his direction resulted in a film filled with what they consider to be racial stereotypes and distorted portrayals that are detached from reality, angering a large number of Latino netizens across several countries. The film has failed to win over non-Latino audiences as well, with many complaining about the absurd, poorly executed, and cringeworthy musical numbers, as well as its inauthentic depiction of the transgender community.
The dissatisfaction with "Emilia Pérez" has even reached Latino actors within Hollywood. Veteran Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez stated bluntly that co-star Selena Gomez's Spanish is very poor, adding that he was confused about what she was saying whenever she spoke. He also questioned whether the judges at film festivals and award shows even understand Spanish, suggesting they simply find it "interesting" to hear and thus give Gomez awards for it.
Derbez isn't the only one. Director Luca Guadagnino, whose film "Challengers" was also nominated at the Golden Globes, was reportedly filmed (see video above) appearing to get angry and leave the ceremony immediately after hearing that "Challengers" had lost to "Emilia Pérez" in the Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category.
Viewers took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their outrage, with many criticizing the film for perpetuating harmful stereotypes while others questioned how it could beat out acclaimed films like "Wicked: Part One." Some even declared it a worse musical than "Joker: Folie à Deux."