Out of all nominees for best picture at the Academy Awards, “Emilia Pérez” stood out above the rest, but not for the reasons people would expect. 

Directed by French filmmaker Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez” follows a Mexican cartel boss who faked their death and undergoes several sex change surgeries to transition into a woman. 

Seemingly, the once-notorious criminal turns her life around after assuming this new identity.

On its surface, the film explores the potential for change in a person, whether that’s morally, socially or physically.

Released on Netflix in November 2024, the film quickly garnered attention because of its inclusion of big actors — Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez — and its unconventional tackling of controversial topics like transgender identity with musical numbers.

Considering this, it’s no surprise the film swept the Academy Awards with 13 nominations, including best picture, best actress and best directing. 

Despite the film’s critical acclaim from the Academy, there’s been an outcry of backlash from viewers for the film’s regressive portrayal of transgender identity and the country the film takes place in, Mexico.

The film’s setting of Mexico is seen as regressive because it depicts Mexico as a wartorn, drug-ridden country. 

What’s supposed to be a deep look into the problems of the country is actually a surface-level exploration of how the country operates, with no regard for how it affects the viewer’s perception of the country.

What’s more egregious is that a cisgender white man (the film’s director) is tackling complex issues like transgender identity. 

The film aligns the morality of Emilia Perez with her gender identity, seemingly excusing all the crimes she committed because she wasn’t her true self.

The LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation cited the film as “not good trans representation” in a recent press statement that was released after people questioned why the film didn’t get nominated for any awards at the GLAAD Media Awards.

If viewers and critics alike are attacking the film, why did it receive so many nominations at the Academy Awards then? 

Films like “Emilia Pérez” are made to fulfill certain criteria that make Academy Award voters happy and win awards.

These films are considered “Oscar bait.”

Oscar bait operates under the guise of progress while not actually saying anything of substance. 

“Emilia Pérez” is an interesting case of Oscar bait, since it isn’t actually good. 

Usually, films that fit in this category have elements of a good film. 

This film has horrible musical numbers, the acting is subpar, and the messaging is deplorable.

The director’s actions can’t be excused on the basis that they come from a place of ignorance, since he set out to make a film tackling those concepts without actually going through the necessary hurdles of educating himself about said concepts.

Especially when compared to films like “I Saw The TV Glow,” which also came out last year, that discuss gender identity in an educated way, informed by personal experience, “Emilia Perez”’s offenses become even more inexplicable.