EMILIA PÉREZ & DONALD TRUMP: A NIGHTMARE FOR MEXICO

After conquering four of the most important categories at the Golden Globes, such as Best Comedy or Musical, Best Supporting Actress, Best Song, and Best Foreign Language Film, Emilia Pérez has marked a significant milestone for her team. This victory adds to the recognition received at the Cannes Film Festival, where Jacques Audiard's masterpiece garnered praise for its impact. The film won the Jury's Palme d'Or, and actresses Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gómez, Zoe Saldaña, and Adriana Paz were awarded the Best Actress prize. This historic achievement highlighted Karla Sofía Gascón as the first transgender woman to receive this prestigious recognition, while Adriana Paz became the first Mexican actress to win it.

Additionally, these are just a few of the many awards the film has accumulated since its premiere in Cannes, and it is expected to be one of the big favorites for the upcoming Academy Awards.

However, despite its international success, the film has become the subject of controversy in Mexico. In a podcast, Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez expressed that Selena Gómez's performance was "unforgivable" due to her "notable mishandling of Spanish." What’s curious is that Derbez has been a staunch critic of the lack of opportunities for Latinos in Hollywood, precisely because they do not dominate English. Therefore, his comments seem unfounded, especially considering the impact and popularity of the film.

While in Mexico, attention is focused on criticizing Selena Gómez's Spanish, the film has received praise in other countries for its profound message about gender identity, a topic highly relevant in a traditionally machista society, as evidenced by the alarming femicide statistics in Mexico. But Emilia Pérez doesn't only focus on gender identity; it also addresses issues of political corruption, something that is all too familiar in the Mexican reality. Throughout the plot, themes like drug trafficking and forced disappearances are explored—issues that are constant in Mexico's news broadcasts.

Emilia Pérez tells the story of Manitas del Monte, a Mexican drug lord who, upon transforming into Emilia, leaves behind his life in crime to focus on the search for the disappeared in mass graves. This story is not far from reality, as forced disappearances are a serious problem in Mexico. Furthermore, the film highlights the impact of drug trafficking, which is a recurring theme in Mexican politics as well as in the diplomatic tensions between Mexico, the United States, and Canada, particularly regarding Donald Trump's policies on immigration and drugs.

There is no denying that Emilia Pérez's success lies in the way it addresses complex social and cultural issues. Regardless of the criticism, the film reflects the harsh, sad, and often humiliating reality of Mexican society—a reality that few are willing to acknowledge, especially in such a delicate moment as the one we are currently living through, with diplomatic tensions and the growing concern over drug trafficking and immigration.

The film is marking a before and after, not only in the film industry but also in the conversation about social and political issues that remain crucial for Mexico's future and its relationship with the world.