Los Angeles Fires May Impact “Emilia Perez” at Oscars, Director Says

Los Angeles Fires May Impact “Emilia Perez” at Oscars, Director Says

by Agence France-Presse
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The devastating fires in Los Angeles could negatively impact the chances of foreign films like “Emilia Perez” at this year’s Oscars, according to the film’s director, Jacques Audiard.

In an interview with AFP in Bogota, Audiard suggested that Hollywood might “play it local” following the disaster that killed at least 27 people and destroyed large swathes of the city, including homes of celebrities like Anthony Hopkins, Billy Crystal, Jeff Bridges, and Jamie Lee Curtis.

“Emilia Perez,” Audiard’s surreal Spanish-language musical, focuses on a transgender Mexican drug baron seeking redemption by aiding in the search for missing persons. The film, starring Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldana, and Karla Sofia Gascon, has garnered significant acclaim, including four Golden Globes and a runner-up prize at Cannes. However, its Oscar journey might be fraught due to both the local disaster and criticisms it has faced in Mexico.

The film’s reception in Mexico has been notably harsh, with critiques focusing on the minimal representation of Mexican actors, the choice of filming locations mostly in French studios, and the perceived trivialization of Mexico’s severe issues with violence and disappearances. More than 450,000 murders and 100,000 missing individuals in Mexico over the last two decades lend weight to these criticisms.

Audiard, who spent over four years researching for the film, particularly inspired by the case of 43 missing students in 2014, defended his work by explaining the necessity of artistic liberty over documentary-like precision. He described “Emilia Perez” as a “mongrel film” for its blend of Spanish-language storytelling with French production elements, aiming to merge local narratives with universal themes.

Despite the backlash, Audiard maintains that his goal was not to document reality but to create a narrative that defies credulity at times to explore deeper human truths. This approach, he argues, allows him to revisit themes of redemption and the complexity of human nature, similar to what he explored in “A Prophet,” without a specific fascination for the criminal underworld but rather for the human stories within it.

The Oscar nominations, delayed due to the fires, are scheduled for announcement online this Thursday, setting the stage for a potentially challenging awards season for “Emilia Perez.”

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