WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:07.800 From FRO Media and PRX It's Latino USA. I'm Maria 2 00:00:07.880 --> 00:00:12.520 jo Josa today discussing the Oscar nominated film Emilia Pees 3 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:29.480 with film thinkers from Mexico and the US. To say 4 00:00:29.520 --> 00:00:33.839 the film Emilia Petes has been polarizing might be an understatement. 5 00:00:35.520 --> 00:00:38.400 It has emerged as both a standout in the awards circle, 6 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:40.839 but it has also become the butt of jokes for 7 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:44.919 many Latinos in the US and in Mexico. The memes abound. 8 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:50.600 But dear listener, before we even get into the film itself, 9 00:00:51.040 --> 00:00:53.720 I have to tell you that just after we recorded 10 00:00:53.720 --> 00:00:57.200 the conversation that you're about to hear, there were tweets 11 00:00:57.320 --> 00:01:00.560 that the lead actress, Cadla Sophia Gasco and had posted 12 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:04.600 a few years ago. And while they resurfaced and they 13 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:09.480 were not good. Fifty two year old transgender actress had 14 00:01:09.520 --> 00:01:14.400 posted about George Floyd using racist language. She posted anti 15 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:18.000 Islamic rants, and she said that the oscars were looking 16 00:01:18.040 --> 00:01:21.399 more and more like Black Lives Matter protests. Back then. 17 00:01:22.240 --> 00:01:26.959 She also used anti Asian language during the pandemic, and well, 18 00:01:27.600 --> 00:01:32.520 the list goes on. Gascon The actress has since apologized 19 00:01:32.600 --> 00:01:35.800 publicly on social media, and in an interview with CNN 20 00:01:35.959 --> 00:01:37.039 En Espanol. 21 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:43.240 Miss macin atas personas case Sentio AIDA's pro last formats. 22 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:49.240 The espresser mean, but the Academy has since removed the 23 00:01:49.280 --> 00:01:54.160 actress from the pre Oscars publicity tours. All right, now, 24 00:01:54.200 --> 00:01:56.640 we're going to get back to talking about the film itself. 25 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:02.320 It isn't your typical Awards season drama. The Media bet 26 00:02:02.520 --> 00:02:07.120 Is is a wild mix of musical crime thriller and 27 00:02:07.280 --> 00:02:11.360 a social commentary film. The story is set in Mexico. 28 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:15.760 It's the tale of a powerful Mexican drug cartel leader 29 00:02:16.280 --> 00:02:21.600 who undergoes a gender transition while seeking redemption from being 30 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:36.119 a big bad narco. It's written and directed by Jacques Oudiad. 31 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:40.560 He is French. The film's three lead actors are not 32 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:45.160 Mexican and none of the scenes were even filmed in Mexico. 33 00:02:46.080 --> 00:02:49.160 So a media that has sparked its fair share of 34 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:54.280 controversy in Mexico, with many critics condemning its inaccurate accents 35 00:02:54.320 --> 00:02:58.560 and slang and its skewed portrayal of social issues, leading 36 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:01.520 to a surge of backlash in Mexico. 37 00:03:03.639 --> 00:03:09.680 The sutantop in San Sible, the Mexico. Mexico sobretodo atravees 38 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:10.280 de bels. 39 00:03:11.120 --> 00:03:13.119 It feels like a caricature of Mexico. 40 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:22.399 It stepnepongo lo milla prestatamando umaso conference, says Kirk MBAs. 41 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:26.440 The vino propos nil we see zois a Daniel's character 42 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:31.200 and umercavo in a market with a laptop drinking wine 43 00:03:31.280 --> 00:03:35.400 because clearly a French person thinks that they serve wine 44 00:03:35.480 --> 00:03:41.640 in a flea market in Mexico. Na terris jo pretendendo 45 00:03:41.840 --> 00:03:45.440 terras now. Some viewers and critics have hailed the film 46 00:03:45.640 --> 00:03:50.920 as a visionary, genre breaking masterpiece, while others feel it 47 00:03:51.040 --> 00:03:56.080 relies on old stereotypes and gimmicky cinematography tricks. Either way, 48 00:03:56.200 --> 00:04:00.840 the film did win multiple Golden Globes, including is Aldanie's 49 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:04.960 win for Best Supporting Actress, which by the way I 50 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:07.560 and many others have praised. 51 00:04:08.200 --> 00:04:10.200 My heart is full of gratitude. 52 00:04:10.720 --> 00:04:14.280 Thank you so much to the Golden Globes for celebrating 53 00:04:14.320 --> 00:04:17.960 our film and honoring the women of Emilia Prees. Thank 54 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:18.760 you so much. 55 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:24.440 The film now has thirteen Oscar nominations, including Best Picture 56 00:04:24.880 --> 00:04:28.560 and Best Actress for Call Sophia Gascon's portrayal of the 57 00:04:28.640 --> 00:04:34.000 main character, Emania bettis the first openly transgender actress to 58 00:04:34.120 --> 00:04:37.360 ever be nominated for an Oscar. So today we're asking 59 00:04:37.520 --> 00:04:40.960 what does the film's reception say about the state of 60 00:04:41.080 --> 00:04:44.520 modern cinema and about the portrayal of Mexico on screen. 61 00:04:45.000 --> 00:04:46.800 So we're going to break it all down with you 62 00:04:46.960 --> 00:04:56.480 today with film thinkers. Let's get started. Welcome all of 63 00:04:56.560 --> 00:04:59.920 you to Latino Usay, all right, let's just go around 64 00:05:00.040 --> 00:05:02.240 and introduce yourselves. We're going to start with you, Kiko. 65 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:05.839 My name is Squio Martinez. I'm based in San Antonio, Texas. 66 00:05:06.400 --> 00:05:09.960 I've been a freelance film journalist since about two thousand 67 00:05:09.960 --> 00:05:13.200 and two. I write for Outlet's all across the US. 68 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:17.640 Great Menido, Quiko, Fernande, tell us about yourself. 69 00:05:18.440 --> 00:05:22.480 Hi, thank you well. I'm Fernandez Laro. I'm a film critic. 70 00:05:22.720 --> 00:05:27.839 I've been doing this professionally since nineteen ninety seven. I think. 71 00:05:30.920 --> 00:05:32.600 No, no, no, not at all. 72 00:05:33.240 --> 00:05:36.360 I still write a lot, mostly in Letters Libres magazine. 73 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:38.960 And you're based here in Mexico City. I'm in the 74 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:42.000 in the eye of the hurricane. As you can imagine. 75 00:05:42.080 --> 00:05:44.039 Regarding Amelia Perez, Gonzalo. 76 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:48.839 I'm Gonzale Lida. I'm based in Mexico City. I'm a journalist. 77 00:05:49.440 --> 00:05:54.839 I've been working talking about cinema and movies TV shows 78 00:05:55.080 --> 00:06:00.320 for more than a decade and now I'm basically working 79 00:06:00.400 --> 00:06:02.320 for the Laldo Mexicos. 80 00:06:02.200 --> 00:06:06.280 And finally my friend and my colleague Antonia Serrajizo. 81 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.720 I am based in Los Angeles. I'm the host of 82 00:06:09.760 --> 00:06:13.520 a podcast called Imperfect Paradise about things here in Southern California, 83 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:16.760 and I'm very interested in Emilia Betis from like the 84 00:06:16.880 --> 00:06:19.880 point of view of how the film industry is treating 85 00:06:19.960 --> 00:06:20.400 this film. 86 00:06:20.960 --> 00:06:25.680 Okay, so I want to hear what everybody's initial ideas 87 00:06:25.880 --> 00:06:29.560 and reactions to Amelia bet Is. Geko start us off 88 00:06:29.560 --> 00:06:30.360 from San Antonio. 89 00:06:30.640 --> 00:06:32.320 Yeah, Well, you know I had the first time I 90 00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:34.440 ever heard of Emlia Betters was when it was coming 91 00:06:34.440 --> 00:06:36.640 out of can Right, and whether you love it or 92 00:06:36.680 --> 00:06:39.080 hate it, there was no denying that it was unlike 93 00:06:39.120 --> 00:06:41.600 anything that you had ever seen before, so kind of 94 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:43.520 reminded me of like a cross between a rocky horror 95 00:06:43.560 --> 00:06:45.880 picture show and something more classical like a Lesbis. 96 00:06:46.440 --> 00:06:47.040 I enjoyed it. 97 00:06:47.200 --> 00:06:49.400 It made my top ten films of the year. I 98 00:06:49.440 --> 00:06:51.920 put it at number seven after seeing over, you know, 99 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:54.400 two hundred and fifty two hundred and seventy five months, 100 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:57.919 So yeah, yeah. 101 00:06:57.760 --> 00:07:00.840 Definitely, all right, Antonia, what'd you say? So? 102 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:03.920 I watched Emilia Pettis in bed one night, and I 103 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:05.679 didn't really know what it was going to be about, 104 00:07:06.240 --> 00:07:10.800 so every moment I was like what what? And I 105 00:07:10.920 --> 00:07:15.720 actually found the experience of watching it pretty fun, Like 106 00:07:15.880 --> 00:07:18.760 I was engaged the whole time. But I think it's 107 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:22.679 an offensive film. I think it was a big swing 108 00:07:22.880 --> 00:07:26.040 and a miss, and I'm excited to get into all 109 00:07:26.120 --> 00:07:27.960 of the intricacies of why. 110 00:07:28.520 --> 00:07:30.760 Okay, well that's some fighting words there to say that 111 00:07:30.840 --> 00:07:33.760 the film is offensive, all right, is Steve Fernanda. 112 00:07:34.320 --> 00:07:36.680 There were like cringe like moments like, oh my god, 113 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:39.000 this is not working well. But at the same time, 114 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:42.520 I was entertained all the time, which at this point, 115 00:07:42.840 --> 00:07:45.840 you know, I really appreciate a film that makes you, 116 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.040 you know, like being what am I watching? Like Antonias, 117 00:07:50.200 --> 00:07:52.760 like this is so different from what I've seen before. 118 00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:55.040 And also at the back of my head, I kind 119 00:07:55.080 --> 00:07:58.360 of foresaw all the anger that was going to provoke 120 00:07:58.720 --> 00:08:00.920 between Mexicus. I was thinking, this is going to be 121 00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:02.520 very problematic, you know. 122 00:08:02.840 --> 00:08:03.200 All right. 123 00:08:03.280 --> 00:08:05.480 So I'm going to tell you, Gonzalo, before I hand 124 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:08.600 it off to you. I came to the movie with 125 00:08:08.720 --> 00:08:13.400 an open mind. As you say, Fernanda, the waves of 126 00:08:14.440 --> 00:08:20.400 anti Emilia Pees sentiment really started to come quickly. But 127 00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:21.400 I'm just going to tell you. 128 00:08:21.520 --> 00:08:21.680 Then. 129 00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:24.000 I called my mom in Mexico City, who's eighty eight 130 00:08:24.080 --> 00:08:28.880 years old. Lemmmy, Mistela Pellicula Emilia Pees. Did you see 131 00:08:28.880 --> 00:08:31.520 the film? And she goes, oh, my goodness. I watched 132 00:08:31.520 --> 00:08:34.160 it twice. I wanted to see it a second time 133 00:08:34.520 --> 00:08:38.040 to make sure I didn't miss anything. I loved it. Wow, 134 00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:42.199 my mom, I know, all right, Gonzalo. That was the 135 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.559 lead up to you it too, Gonzalo. 136 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:47.839 I got the opportunity to watch the film quite early. 137 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:50.120 I got the chance to see it on a screening room. 138 00:08:50.520 --> 00:08:52.959 I was not offended by it, and I'm still not 139 00:08:53.080 --> 00:08:55.839 offended by it. I understand why people get offended by it, 140 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:58.880 but I think it's it's bonkers. It's such a rump 141 00:08:59.040 --> 00:09:03.599 of a movie that although I don't like it, I 142 00:09:03.760 --> 00:09:07.880 had so much fun. I really enjoyed hating many moments 143 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.320 of Amelia Peters, if that makes sense. 144 00:09:11.080 --> 00:09:11.800 Yeah, totally. 145 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:15.240 Yes, So we actually want to take a moment and 146 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:19.839 talk about the Mexico of it all. Because the film 147 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:25.360 takes place in Mexico, it's supposed to be all Mexican people. 148 00:09:26.400 --> 00:09:28.439 To be clear, this is a film that was not 149 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:33.320 written by a Mexican director. The three lead actors are 150 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:37.520 not from Mexico. And I'm you know, I'm very open. 151 00:09:37.559 --> 00:09:37.960 I want to. 152 00:09:37.920 --> 00:09:40.240 Support artists to be able to do whatever they want 153 00:09:40.280 --> 00:09:43.360 to do. But the director of the film, whose French. 154 00:09:43.400 --> 00:09:47.439 His name is Jacques Audiad. He's also the writer. I'm 155 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:50.240 not even sure why he admitted it, but he admitted 156 00:09:50.240 --> 00:09:55.040 it publicly that he didn't research Mexico at all before 157 00:09:55.160 --> 00:09:58.679 making the film Wild Wild, right, Antonia. I Mean, there's 158 00:09:58.679 --> 00:10:00.520 a part of me that's like, is that's On the 159 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:02.880 other hand, I'm like, well, for not having research Mexico 160 00:10:02.920 --> 00:10:05.360 at all, I mean, you got a few things, Okay, 161 00:10:05.760 --> 00:10:07.320 that's pretty hoodspot. 162 00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:07.599 Of you to do that. 163 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:11.439 This is so interesting to me because I agree that 164 00:10:11.760 --> 00:10:13.840 I don't think people have to be from a certain 165 00:10:13.880 --> 00:10:15.800 place to do a story in a certain place at all. 166 00:10:15.840 --> 00:10:18.480 I think that's very reductive. This movie could have been 167 00:10:18.800 --> 00:10:21.480 filmed anywhere, and I think that that's actually what makes 168 00:10:21.520 --> 00:10:24.000 it offensive, is that like it's half trying to talk 169 00:10:24.040 --> 00:10:27.079 about a real issue that impacts people, but it can't 170 00:10:27.160 --> 00:10:30.600 figure out its footing in that spectrum. And so if 171 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:33.760 like this is the movie about the nautical wars, like 172 00:10:33.920 --> 00:10:36.240 that's crazy. You know, this is like the movie that 173 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:40.000 most people are going to watch about this issue, and 174 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:42.840 it's completely a fantasy. And I think that's the problem. 175 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:45.200 But I think there was just no world in which 176 00:10:46.160 --> 00:10:49.839 this story about this subject treated this way was not 177 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.000 going to be in poor taste. 178 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:55.520 Ultimately, give us your takeaway, Keeko. In terms of the 179 00:10:55.640 --> 00:10:56.880 Mexican part of it. 180 00:10:57.040 --> 00:10:59.240 Role, So, I've only been to Mexico City once and 181 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:01.559 I actually got a lot in the Mexico City airport 182 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:04.600 and almost like crawled underneath a chair. 183 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:07.720 And her greatest fear getting in the Mexico City airport. 184 00:11:07.800 --> 00:11:09.880 Yeah, it was crazy, the greatest fear. 185 00:11:10.920 --> 00:11:12.160 Maybe he'll make a movie about it. 186 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:13.120 I don't know, we'll see. 187 00:11:13.880 --> 00:11:15.839 So when I'm watching it, I felt the same way 188 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:17.679 as you as bonkers. I like that that word. I 189 00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:21.079 think that encapsulates everything that it is. So when we're 190 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:23.160 talking about like footing it, it couldn't find its footing. 191 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:26.160 It felt in a fantasy land. I think that's exactly 192 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:28.400 what the director was going for. For me, it was 193 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:30.040 just like he went in there and he threw everything 194 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:34.360 against the wall. It's part crime thriller, it's part eccentric musical, 195 00:11:34.760 --> 00:11:37.040 and it even reminded me of and I didn't watch 196 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:39.480 them growing up, but I remember walking into my grandmother's 197 00:11:39.520 --> 00:11:42.000 house and always watched I saw her watching the Spanish 198 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:44.400 language novellas, so it was part novella. I mean it 199 00:11:44.520 --> 00:11:47.920 was just so cheesy at times, so campy that I 200 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:50.959 think that throwing everything together like that, it was just 201 00:11:51.040 --> 00:11:52.760 such a crazy experience. 202 00:11:53.400 --> 00:11:57.520 So Fernanda bring your own stuff. As a Mexicana, Yes, 203 00:11:57.600 --> 00:12:02.160 it's like the worst she we're having right now as Mexicans. 204 00:12:02.200 --> 00:12:05.199 The violence provoked by drop cardinals and all that. And 205 00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:09.600 so why would a director place his musical He's cheery, weird, 206 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.160 you know, witty musical in a place where that is 207 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:14.600 actually a problem. 208 00:12:15.040 --> 00:12:16.760 The thing here is that I don't know. I think 209 00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:19.320 I have a very personal reading of the film where 210 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:23.199 at the end it all comes down to eMedia Partans 211 00:12:23.320 --> 00:12:26.880 couldn't escape from the violence in Mexico. I'm not talking 212 00:12:26.880 --> 00:12:32.200 about transgender reinvention not being possible, but about the world 213 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:33.360 she came from. 214 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:37.640 Actually, from my perspective in watching, one of my takeaways 215 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:43.040 is that this world of narco traffic and these money launders, 216 00:12:43.240 --> 00:12:48.240 it's actually everywhere everywhere. You kind of can't get away 217 00:12:48.280 --> 00:12:54.120 from it, all, Right, Gonzalo, Something particular happened in Mexico. 218 00:12:54.880 --> 00:12:58.160 I didn't know about the policy at Sine Police, which 219 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:00.920 is that if you go see a movie and you 220 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:03.680 don't like it, like you can walk up and say, 221 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.640 I want my money back, so keep us all. 222 00:13:06.120 --> 00:13:09.480 Sinneapolis has this thing that they called like the Singapolis warranty. 223 00:13:10.160 --> 00:13:12.199 They try to defend themselves saying that it's like a 224 00:13:12.240 --> 00:13:14.800 seal of approval that they support that movie because they 225 00:13:14.880 --> 00:13:17.880 think people will like it. So Profitco, which is like 226 00:13:18.040 --> 00:13:23.800 a government instance that regulates big enterprises that they do 227 00:13:23.920 --> 00:13:25.000 those warranties valid. 228 00:13:25.760 --> 00:13:28.720 They came out and said like, no, you have. 229 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:32.480 To actually give people not their money back, but a 230 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.160 compensation if they don't like the movie that you are 231 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.200 supposed to be supporting. 232 00:13:36.360 --> 00:13:38.600 I think that people is just in love with trolling 233 00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:39.160 right now. 234 00:13:39.280 --> 00:13:43.839 Everything better is related and since Syneapolis is such a 235 00:13:43.880 --> 00:13:44.520 big company. 236 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:47.760 It's like it's like you're taking on the big company 237 00:13:47.800 --> 00:13:48.040 as well. 238 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:51.760 Exactly has something to do with with how we've as 239 00:13:51.840 --> 00:13:54.880 Mexicans reacted to to a Millia Petters, which is, let's 240 00:13:55.120 --> 00:14:00.360 put down this European guy that's trying to retell or story. 241 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:05.240 All right. Interestingly, we came across this clip from the 242 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:07.120 director rispanol Le. 243 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.400 The Pe Modeste. 244 00:14:13.640 --> 00:14:16.920 So he's been interviewed last year about the film, and 245 00:14:17.040 --> 00:14:20.400 in the edited interview this is what he says enfonse 246 00:14:20.800 --> 00:14:23.600 in French. He says, this is it's hard for me 247 00:14:23.720 --> 00:14:26.560 to even say this, Okay, he said, Spanish is a 248 00:14:26.680 --> 00:14:32.400 language from developing countries, from modest countries, of the poor, 249 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:38.400 of migrants. Oh yem a ci fernanda, I mean o 250 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:41.600 yeme hs. That makes me really kind of hate the 251 00:14:41.680 --> 00:14:42.520 film at this moment. 252 00:14:42.920 --> 00:14:46.200 But you know, I think at one point you have 253 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:49.240 to stop guiding your your taste or whatever it is, 254 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:53.280 by what actors said, even the director, because the film 255 00:14:53.640 --> 00:14:55.120 has a life of itself. 256 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.880 For example, you know, how do you separate the art 257 00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:00.480 from the person. You know, my face favorite one of 258 00:15:00.560 --> 00:15:04.120 this is Woody Allen. But okay, Antonia, your take on 259 00:15:04.280 --> 00:15:06.680 this moment and him kind of saying this in this 260 00:15:06.840 --> 00:15:08.160 particular moment in history. 261 00:15:09.040 --> 00:15:12.040 Yeah, I mean, I think obviously it just underscores how 262 00:15:12.120 --> 00:15:15.720 misguided and not knowledgeable he is about I for seeing 263 00:15:15.760 --> 00:15:21.000 in the movie, I grew up with immigrant parents, right, 264 00:15:21.240 --> 00:15:25.320 and when my dad would pick up an expression like slang, 265 00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:29.200 that's like a huge deal when you're learning a new language, 266 00:15:29.240 --> 00:15:32.360 because it's like it's not just about a linguistic management 267 00:15:32.400 --> 00:15:35.080 of the language, it's like a cultural understanding. And you 268 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:38.120 can see in Sidna Gomez's eyes she does not know 269 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:40.960 what she is saying. I totally agree with you, even 270 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:43.120 if they had made it more clear in the film 271 00:15:43.160 --> 00:15:45.200 that she's supposed to be Mexican American, which like a 272 00:15:45.240 --> 00:15:48.120 lot of people are arguing that she there's the intention 273 00:15:48.440 --> 00:15:50.240 through the expressions, is not there. 274 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.600 Yeah, to me, that's the biggest flow of the film, 275 00:15:54.400 --> 00:15:58.440 because you mean the Selena, the Selena Gomez Spanish interpretation. 276 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:02.280 If he spokes Spanish, if he understood Mexico, then you 277 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:04.840 would be able to say what you're saying is not 278 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:10.080 really working. And I actually did like her acting. I 279 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:13.840 felt like she delivered in terms of the romance with 280 00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:16.680 her lover so I'm gonna blame it on the director. 281 00:16:18.080 --> 00:16:29.520 Po to primo paranala ubi amas and contrallo prea cometolos perus. 282 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:34.280 Okay, Gonzalo, your Jake. 283 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:35.920 I don't know if you remember this, Bernanda. 284 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:38.880 But in Morelia, during the press conference for Emilia Perez, 285 00:16:39.160 --> 00:16:43.360 Jacodiard said, I didn't even know that Selena did not 286 00:16:43.480 --> 00:16:47.360 speak Spanish. I thought she speaks Spanish because she has 287 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:51.000 Mexican parents. It's like, you don't even know that these 288 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:54.920 Mexican Americans that were born in the United States that 289 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:55.960 don't speak Spanish. 290 00:16:56.280 --> 00:17:00.360 It's like making the Latino experience I talked to. It's 291 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:01.800 like they're all the same. 292 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:04.439 They speak the same language, they use the same slang, 293 00:17:04.760 --> 00:17:07.879 And who am I to even do the research to 294 00:17:08.040 --> 00:17:12.119 understand what the differences are between these experiences, because she 295 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:14.520 could have been the character that she's saying that she's 296 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:17.960 that she portrayed, but she's not playing it that. 297 00:17:18.119 --> 00:17:21.879 Way now Again, like any other movie, you bring in 298 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:26.119 your own experiences. I'm a fifth or sixth generation Mexican 299 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:29.800 American in San Antonio, Texas. I don't speak Spanish. When 300 00:17:29.840 --> 00:17:33.879 that whole thing about Selena Goma's not sounny, like she 301 00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:37.480 knows what she's talking about. I didn't catch that whatsoever 302 00:17:37.760 --> 00:17:40.160 at all. I didn't hear I thought she did great. 303 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:41.720 I was like, well, but then when I came out, 304 00:17:41.720 --> 00:17:44.639 I was like, oh, her pronunciation was terrible, and I 305 00:17:44.720 --> 00:17:47.000 was like, okay, well let me let mean watch it again. 306 00:17:47.080 --> 00:17:49.400 And you know, okay, she sounds like I would tell 307 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:52.760 if I spoke those words, right. So I think everybody 308 00:17:52.840 --> 00:17:54.840 brings her own experience to any movie that they see, 309 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:56.320 and especially this one, Kiko. 310 00:17:56.600 --> 00:17:58.800 I think it's really interesting to hear your perspective, and 311 00:17:58.920 --> 00:18:02.000 I do think that, like obviously here in the US 312 00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:04.359 we've had this really I think beautiful movement of the 313 00:18:04.520 --> 00:18:08.640 Nosavo kids who grew up not speaking Spanish and who 314 00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:12.560 are like my datinida is valid and I love seeing that. 315 00:18:13.280 --> 00:18:13.480 Yeah. 316 00:18:13.520 --> 00:18:18.960 Definitely coming up on Latino USA, the film Emilia Pees. 317 00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.359 We're breaking it all down with you today with film 318 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:36.040 critics and thinkers. Yes, stay with us, Hey, we're back. 319 00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:38.919 Let's get back to our conversation about the Golden Globe 320 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:42.879 winner and Oscar nominated film, Emilia Pees. And just a 321 00:18:42.960 --> 00:18:46.040 reminder of the film thinkers that we're hearing from joining 322 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:51.399 us from Mexico Gonzalo Lira Galban and Fernande Solar Sandon 323 00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:57.040 and from the US Antonia Serejidro and Chico Martinez. All Right, 324 00:18:57.240 --> 00:19:00.159 There's been a lot of talk about the movie as 325 00:19:00.200 --> 00:19:04.920 a trans positive movie. It is the first time that 326 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:08.479 an openly trans woman is going to be nominated. Got 327 00:19:08.560 --> 00:19:12.560 Less Sophia Gas going for an Oscar. There were moments 328 00:19:13.359 --> 00:19:17.359 in her experience as a trans woman that I actually 329 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:20.760 kind of loved. There's a particular moment when she has 330 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:23.080 just had the operation, right. 331 00:19:26.440 --> 00:19:26.800 It is. 332 00:19:29.040 --> 00:19:34.639 Signon, I mean, and she's sitting up in her hospital 333 00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:38.159 bed and she's like practicing her new name. You know, 334 00:19:38.280 --> 00:19:41.680 how is she gonna introduce herself to people now as 335 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:45.119 a woman named Emilia Betis And so she's saying her 336 00:19:45.240 --> 00:19:48.359 name over and over again to kind of get herself 337 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:49.159 comfortable with it. 338 00:19:53.240 --> 00:19:53.359 Too. 339 00:19:54.960 --> 00:19:57.080 I know that some of my trans friends have gone 340 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:00.960 through that moment, so I was taken by that moment. 341 00:20:01.760 --> 00:20:05.960 But there has been a lot of criticism about this 342 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:10.480 film from trans folks. Okay, so glad the Gay and 343 00:20:10.600 --> 00:20:15.399 Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. They said the film was quote 344 00:20:15.960 --> 00:20:21.200 a profoundly retrograde portrayal of a transwoman, and in social 345 00:20:21.280 --> 00:20:23.240 media there's commentary on both sides. 346 00:20:23.880 --> 00:20:26.119 I don't like that this film is already starting out 347 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:28.560 with okay, we got to set the goal points of surgery, 348 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.760 which not everybody could afford. I don't get why people 349 00:20:32.080 --> 00:20:35.760 insist on gender being something related to your body parts 350 00:20:35.920 --> 00:20:36.680 or how you look. 351 00:20:37.160 --> 00:20:38.800 Okay, that's how you feel. 352 00:20:39.080 --> 00:20:41.440 I did think it was pretty entertaining. Maybe that's just 353 00:20:41.520 --> 00:20:43.920 because I am a bit biased because I'm trans or whatever. 354 00:20:44.040 --> 00:20:46.760 It's wonderful that this movie has transrepresentation in it. 355 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:49.920 Do any of you think that this film and media 356 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:53.520 that is did justice to the complexity of the trans identity. 357 00:20:54.320 --> 00:20:57.160 Well, of course, speaking from a place of not knowing 358 00:20:57.720 --> 00:21:01.720 what it feels to transition, going to say this, wouldn't 359 00:21:01.960 --> 00:21:05.920 it like saying like this character has it's making no 360 00:21:06.320 --> 00:21:10.040 justice to the trans experience. Wouldn't it be like, so, 361 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:14.560 now all trans characters have to be positive and you 362 00:21:14.680 --> 00:21:16.560 know italisando. 363 00:21:16.000 --> 00:21:20.200 In making an ideal and idealism, yeah, the trans woman. 364 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.760 And then it's not like saying that she didn't have 365 00:21:22.880 --> 00:21:25.720 a successful character. I'm speaking she didn't have a successful 366 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:28.440 transition because she goes back to it's not saying that 367 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:30.720 she's a violent person, and it doesn't have to do 368 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:33.760 anything with transitioning or not or not being able to 369 00:21:33.880 --> 00:21:35.639 leave behind her gender identity. 370 00:21:35.800 --> 00:21:37.840 It's depending on how you read it. I think it 371 00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:40.399 would be like an act of tokenism, you know, to 372 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:45.440 all transgender characters have to be perfect, because it's it's 373 00:21:45.520 --> 00:21:47.240 denying them their complexity. 374 00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:48.800 Also, go go ahead. 375 00:21:49.000 --> 00:21:50.600 I think it would be different. Of course, if you 376 00:21:50.680 --> 00:21:53.119 know there's one hundred films that come out that have 377 00:21:53.280 --> 00:21:56.280 trans characters in them, right, Yeah, you're looking so harshly 378 00:21:56.320 --> 00:21:58.439 at somebody like Emilia Betters. 379 00:21:58.800 --> 00:21:59.880 But that's just not the case. 380 00:22:00.119 --> 00:22:02.600 So when you do get a immediate bets or when 381 00:22:02.600 --> 00:22:04.920 you do get a trans character and it is like 382 00:22:05.040 --> 00:22:08.120 immediate betas, the trans community is going to push back 383 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.120 on that because it's the only thing that they've seen 384 00:22:10.200 --> 00:22:11.880 in you know, five six, seven years. 385 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:14.639 A very nice to meet. I like to know what 386 00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:18.320 sex change up see I see I see. 387 00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:24.119 Men to woman, a woman to men, man to a 388 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.880 woman from PISTI. 389 00:22:26.920 --> 00:22:31.440 As Fernanda said, you know, there is the transformation of 390 00:22:31.560 --> 00:22:35.879 a narco trafficante who becomes a woman who wants to 391 00:22:35.920 --> 00:22:41.200 have a family, who becomes very caring. I mean does 392 00:22:41.280 --> 00:22:45.280 the ending Okay, spoiler alert does the ending, which I 393 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:48.320 was like, Okay, I'm sorry, what a terrible ending. 394 00:22:48.800 --> 00:22:50.480 Skip forward fifteen seconds. 395 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:54.680 Yeah said, are you kidding me? Like I was like, 396 00:22:54.760 --> 00:22:57.639 oh my god, Gonzaldo. Is there an element though of 397 00:22:57.840 --> 00:22:59.760 redemption here or skate? Yeah? 398 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:03.399 Finally getting to the real issues that I have with 399 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.760 Amelia Petes. 400 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:09.720 We see this character transform from this cold blooded criminal 401 00:23:10.359 --> 00:23:17.040