Mexican trans woman makes parody film in response to Emilia Pérez

No movie this year has generated controversy like Jacques Audiard's bold and unique trans musical Emilia Pérez.

One of the most significant voices in the pushback against the film has been Camila Aurora, a Mexican trans woman who teamed up with screenwriter Héctor Guillén to create their own musical in response to Emlia Pérez — this one about France, but made in Mexico, and featuring an all-Mexican cast.

The parody film, Johanne Sacrebleu, is about the trans heiress to the biggest baguette producer in France who falls in love with the rival heir to France's biggest croissant company, who is also trans.

In an interview with the BBC, Guillén discussed Emilia Pérez and declared that the film disregarded "so many in the industry in Mexico" and that making a musical about the country's drug war is "like you are playing with one of the biggest wars in the country since the Revolution."

Even though Emilia Pérez has earned 13 Oscar nominations, many Mexican and trans critics have raised concerns that the film has dangerous and inaccurate Mexican and trans representation. For instance, only a few Mexican actors were cast in the Netflix film.

(L-R) Zoe Saldaña, Karla Sofía Gascón, Selena Gomez in 'Emilia Pérez.' Netflix

Emilia Pérez stars Karla Sofía Gascón — a trans actor born in Spain who reportedly moved to Mexico in 2009 and has lived there ever since — alongside Selena Gomez (who is Mexican-American), Zoe Saldaña (who is Dominican-American and Puerto Rican), and Adriana Paz (who is Mexican). It's also noteworthy that the film was entirely shot in France with a French crew.

The biggest concerns among trans critics have been arguments that the film equates transition with death, portrays trans women as liars, and is a regressive version of a transition narrative.

While the Mexican public has many problems with the film, prominent Mexican filmmakers in the U.S., like Guillermo del Toro and True Detective: Night Country showrunner Issa López, have actually praised Emilia Pérez.

In conversation with Audiard, Del Toro called him "one of the most amazing filmmakers alive today," (via The Hollywood Reporter) and defended his decision to shoot the film in France, saying: "I don't think Gene Kelly was in Paris in An American in Paris, so you're okay!"

López was also effusive in her praise. As reported by The Wrap, the showrunner told a CNN reporter that watching the film "as a Mexican, when you find out what the movie is about, you think, 'Let's see if there’s really an understanding of gender identity, of the reality of violence in Latin America, in Mexico.' And when I saw the film, it blew my mind. I think he did it better than any Mexican facing this issue at this time... The film is a masterpiece."

The controversy surrounding Emilia Pérez is unlikely to die down any time soon given that it is the most-nominated film at this year's Oscars, which are scheduled to air Sunday, March 2 on ABC.

You can watch the Johanne Sacreblue parody film in its entirety below.