Emilia Pérez came into the 97th Academy Awards with 13 nominations, making it the theoretical frontrunner. However, the film only walked away with two awards: best supporting actress for Zoe Saldaña and best original song for “El Mal.”
The abrupt downfall of Emilia Pérez’s Oscar campaign was due to the resurfacing of racist and anti-Muslim tweets from star Karla Sofía Gascón just a week after the nominations were announced. This scandal turned Emilia Pérez from a frontrunner to an also-ran at the Oscars.
In France, the film had a different fate. It received 7 César awards, including best film, best director, and best adapted screenplay. Despite Gascón’s scandal, the film was well-received in France.
The competition at the Césars was weaker compared to the Oscars, with Emilia Pérez being a standout film. Gascón’s scandal had little impact on the Césars, partly due to cultural differences in the French film industry.
In the world of awards season, the U.S. and France have different approaches. While winning an Oscar can significantly impact careers and box office success, winning a César is seen as a nice bonus without much impact on business.
Ultimately, Emilia Pérez’s journey at the Oscars and Césars highlighted the differences in award campaigns and the impact of scandals on a film’s chances of success.
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