Oscar winner Zoe Saldaña has apologised to Mexicans who were offended by controversial musical Emilia Pérez.
The star picked up the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in the Netflix movie and in the press room after her win, a journalist told her the film has been “really hurtful for us Mexicans”.
The film, about a cartel boss seeking to transition to a woman, has come under fire in the last few months after complaints that it was an inauthentic and stereotyped portrayal from a crew made up mostly of Europeans such as French writer-director Jacques Audiard.
“I’m very, very sorry that you and so many Mexicans felt offended,” she said. “That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love.”
Saldaña, who became the first American actor of Dominican origin to win an Oscar, also went on to say she did not agree with the criticisms. “I don’t share your opinion,” she said. “For me, the heart of this movie was not Mexico. We were making a film about friendship. We were making a film about four women.”
She continued: “These women could have been Russian, could have been Dominican, could have been Black from Detroit, could have been from Israel, could have been from Gaza. And these women are still very universal women that are struggling every day, but trying to survive systemic oppression and trying to find the most authentic voices. So I will stand by that, but I’m also always open to sit down with all of my Mexican brothers and sisters, with love and respect, [to have] a great conversation on how Emilia could have been done better.”
In her speech, Saldaña paid tribute to her heritage. “My grandmother came to this country in 1961,” she said. “I am the proud child of immigrant parents with dreams and dignity and hard-working hands.”
The film led the night with 13 nominations yet won just two for Saldaña and for original song. It had been the subject of a number of controversies, also backlash from the LGBTQ+ community and for lead Karla Sofia Gascón’s history of inflammatory tweets.
Audiard had previously apologised to those offended: “If there are things that seem shocking in Emilia Pérez then I am sorry … Cinema doesn’t provide answers, it only asks questions. But maybe the questions in Emilia Pérez are incorrect.”
Sean Baker’s Anora ultimately won the most awards with five wins, including for best picture.
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Article by:Source: Benjamin Lee
