Zoe Saldaña faced backlash regarding her Oscar-winning film 'Emilia Perez' that many Mexicans found offensive. In a press room, she expressed sincere apologies, stating it wasn't their intention to hurt anyone and emphasized the film's focus on friendship rather than cultural identity. Critics, including professor Héctor Tobar, acknowledged the film's problematic portrayal of Mexican cartels, which tends to glorify them. Saldaña insisted that the characters' struggles are universal and welcomed constructive discussions on how the film could have been improved.
I don't share your opinion. 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.
The cartels are these symbolic metaphorical ideas in the American imagination. That subject material is always going to be extremely problematic and like every other film about cartels, it can't help but glorify them.
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 Pérez' could have been done better.
First of all, I'm very, very sorry that many Mexicans felt offended. That was never our intention. We spoke from a place of love.
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