5 Reasons Everyone Hates ‘Emilia Pérez’
Few films in recent memory have sparked as much debate as Emilia Pérez. Despite its star-studded cast and bold premise, the movie has faced intense backlash.
Why don’t people like Emilia Pérez? There are 5 main reasons:
- The musical aspects of Emilia Pérez are jarring. Netflix lists the film as a “drama” so viewers are not expecting the characters in a serious crime movie to suddenly break out into song. Emilia Pérez should have been marketed and categorized as a musical first, and a crime drama second.
- Zoe Saldaña’s character is… just there. The whole first act is about Rita Mora and the dilemma of accepting a high-paying but morally bankrupt job with Del Monte. After she completes the job, we see Rita thriving in her new life in London. She seems truly happy and she deserves to live the life she dreamed of. Not only does Emilia Pérez show up to infringe on Rita’s promised freedom, Emilia takes over as the main character which is unsatisfying as the audience is more invested in Rita at this point.
- It portrays a mass murderer as a sympathetic philanthropist. This should go without saying, but perhaps we don’t need a movie that shallowly attempts to humanize mass murderers?
- The plot doesn’t make any sense. Emilia abandons her children because she thinks it is more important for her to live as a woman than to be with her children. She also states that she has unlimited wealth, but couldn’t think of a way to keep her children with her while making this transformation? The importance of Emilia not being recognized as Del Monte is also stressed, but then Emilia becomes the face of her own non-profit? Surely this diva with unlimited wealth either doesn’t need other donors to fund her philanthropy? Emilia putting her face out there (risking her and her children’s safety) is so beyond unnecessary in the first place. Surely she has heard of an anonymous donation?
- It’s culturally insensitive. Every single group of people (except perhaps cartel kingpins) portrayed in Emilia Pérez has criticized the film as culturally insensitive. Many Mexicans hate Emilia Pérez, calling it “an insensitive caricature”. GLAAD said it is “a step backward for trans representation”. It has also been criticized for exploiting the humanitarian crisis of drug trafficking and being disrespectful to victims and their families.
