"Emilia Pérez" has faced controversy and criticism for various reasons. Among the most prominent is its portrayal of Mexico. The movie’s director, Jacques Audiard, is French, and none of its three lead cast members are of Mexican descent. Only one member of the core cast, Adriana Paz, is from Mexico.

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

When the old offensive social media posts by Emilia Pérez star Karla Sofía Gascón went viral on Thursday, one awards strategist thought of a past Oscar contender who was in a similar situation: Nick Vallelonga.