In Mexico City on Jan 31, a crowd-funded short film satirizing the year's events is scheduled to be shown in Mexican cinemas, contrasting an amateur comedy against the established cinema with the French crime musical "Emilia Perez."
"Emilia Perez" tells the story of a Mexican cartel boss who hires a lawyer to assist in her disappearance and gender transition. Despite receiving 13 Oscar nominations and winning awards at the Cannes Film Festival for best non-English language film, the movie faced criticism in Mexico for its subpar Spanish dialogue, use of stereotypes, filming in Paris with few Mexican actors, and its light handling of forced disappearances in Mexico.
Director Jacques Audiard was also scrutinized for his statement that he did not need extensive research for the film, which premiered on Netflix last year. Following complaints from viewers who did not receive refunds after leaving the movie, a consumer watchdog instructed the top cinema chain, Cinepolis, to clarify their refund policy.
In response, trans filmmaker Camila Aurora initiated a GoFundMe campaign for "Johanne Sacreblu," the tale of a trans heiress to a French bakery empire aiming to combat her country's systemic racism with love, featuring croissants, mimes, rats, and painted mustaches. The 28-minute musical debuted on YouTube on Jan. 25, quickly amassing 2 million views in under a week.
On Thursday, Aurora revealed that Cinedot would present the movie and later shared the update on social media while finalizing technical details before announcing a release date. Aurora, discussing the filming process on TikTok, hinted at an extended feature-length version with new casting and themed merchandise, inviting participation from the "Resist-dance" group.
Fans on social media responded humorously, remarking that the film provided insight into French culture without the need for additional research. Aurora urged supporters to help secure screenings at various cinema chains nationwide, emphasizing the film's powerful message: "Don't mess with Mexico."