The Mexican short film "Johanne Sacreblu" has gone viral worldwide since its release on YouTube on January 25. The idea for this humorous project originated as a joke by Camila Aurora, a transgender activist who wanted to express her discontent with how the film "Emilia Pérez" reflected Mexicans and transgender people.
According to Ashera, part of the production team, "Johanne Sacreblu" does not seek to make economic profits but aims to convey a message of activism in favor of Mexicans and the transgender community in Mexico and Latin America. Initially conceived as a short video, the project took shape as public interest grew, leading to a more elaborate organization.
The short film focuses on the rivalry between two French families: the Sacreblu, dedicated to the production of croissants, and the Ratatouille, specialized in baguettes. The plot follows Johanne, a transgender woman heir to the Sacreblu, and Arturo Ratatouille, a transgender man representing the rival family, in their competition to prove which food represents France better. The story, loaded with irony and cultural references, has involved numerous people, including actors, singers, and collaborators like Ashera, who is in charge of making plush rats for the short film.
With over 2 million views on YouTube in less than a week, the media impact of "Johanne Sacreblu" has exceeded its creators' expectations. Following this unexpected success, they now plan to expand the story for cinema presentation, adding deleted scenes, new characters, and improving the production quality. To finance this next step, they have started a new campaign on the Gofundme platform with the goal of raising funds to cover various project expenses.
Beyond the parody, "Johanne Sacreblu" has sparked a debate about the representation of the transgender community in film and who has the right to tell certain stories. The authenticity of the project has been key to its positive reception, while its creators have been critical of how the film "Emilia Pérez" addressed transgender identity, considering it a disrespect towards the Mexican and transgender community.
