Between widespread criticism of the film itself and resurfaced tweets from its lead star, the Oscars front-runner has been marred by tons of controversy.

Jacques Audiard’s “Emilia Pérez” is an Oscar contender unlike any other. It’s a musical, a trans parable, and a Mexico-set melodrama.

Although it's set in Mexico City, French film 'Emilia Pérez' ran into a frost reception on its opening there. Critics cited stereotypes and the lack of a clear message about the narcos it portrays.

The film stars Zoe Saldana as Rita, a lawyer forcibly recruited by a crime boss, Manitas, played by Karla Sofía Gascón, who wants to undergo gender-confirming surgery to become a woman. She emerges as Emilia Pérez, but will not give up a connection to her wife, Jessi, played by Selena Gomez, and her children.

Lead actress Karla Sofía Gascón has come under fire for old social media posts, the latest of several controversies facing Jacques Audiard’s movie

Is Emilia Pérez based on a true story? Is Emilia Pérez based on a true story? Emilia Pérez is not based on a true story. While it’s true that there are drug cartels in Mexico, and that many people die or disappear as a result of drug cartel violence,