Film Review №1. Frida

FRIDA (2002)

Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Themes: Life in the Arts, Bohemian Life, Crumbling Marriages

Written by: Hayden Herrera, Clancy Sigal, Diane Lake, Gregory Nava and Anna Thomas

Directed by: Julie Taymor

Release Date: October 25, 2002
Running Time: 120 minutes

RATING: R for sexuality/nudity and language

Starring: Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Geoffrey Rush, Ashley Judd and Antonio Banderas

Plot

After being attached to a number of actors, directors, and producers, this long-gestating biography of one of Mexico's most prominent, iconoclastic painters reaches the screen under the guiding hand of producer/star Salma Hayek. Hayek ages some 30 years onscreen as she charts Frida Kahlo's life from feisty schoolgirl to Diego Rivera protégée to world-renowned artist in her own right. Frida details Kahlo's affluent upbringing in Mexico City, and her nurturing relationship with her traditional mother (Patricia Reyes Spindola) and philosophical father (Roger Rees). Having already suffered the crippling effects of polio, Kahlo sustains further injuries when a city bus accident nearly ends her life. But in her bed-ridden state, the young artist produces dozens upon dozens of pieces; when she recovers, she presents them to the legendary - and legendarily temperamental - Rivera (Alfred Molina), who takes her under his wing as an artist, a political revolutionary, and, inevitably, a lover. But their relationship is fraught with trouble, as the philandering Rivera traverses the globe painting murals, and Kahlo languishes in obscurity, longing to make her mark on her own. Frida was directed by Julie Taymor, whose Broadway production of The Lion King won her international acclaim.

Film Review

The film Frida was directed by Julie Taymor and stars Salma Hayek as Frida. It is the story of the life of the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo who is now accepted as one of the greatest and most influential artists of the twentieth century. Her work is filled with pain, beauty and with realism combined with primitivism and the grotesque creating her own unique style. As a film biography it is a delightful surprise.
             I had read biographies of Frida Kahlo & Diego Rievera so I was a little apprehensive about seeing this film as most bio-pics are often disappointing. I had been greatly impressed and inspired by their lives which they dedicated to art and the pursuit of their own artistic vision.Though no doubt this has coloured my viewing of the film to some extent either positive or negative.
             Frida spent most of her life in extreme physical pain due to a bus accident when she was seventeen which left her crippled and she was not expected to ever walk again. But because of her stubborness and determination she refuses to give up. She doesn't just walk again but becomes a strong and graceful dancer which is the focus of several scenes in the film as is her ability to drink whiskey and tequilla as much if not more than most men and to hold her own in a bar-room brawl .
            Frida meets the great Mexican artist Diego Rievera who becomes her mentor and her greatest supporter. Frida's life with him is one of great passion but it was also a rather stormy relationship. Frida eventually gets involved in some scandalous affairs with men and women and even has an affair with the Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky .
           Frida's life seems more of a fantastic work of fiction rather than the life of a real person because it was such an extraordinary life that she lived.
           The contrast between the two artists is quite extraordinary in itself. While Frida painted mostly on canvass small intimate and personal works of art Diego Rievera painted large sweeping murals about the big subjects like history, politics, the class struggle etc. It was mainly due to Rievera along with Marc Chagall that there was a revival of mural painting.
            As for the film the cinematography is lush and vibrant like Fridas paintings . There are scenes where painting and reality converge. The film also uses the modern techniques of collage and montage to advance the story which also helps the viewer see the works of Frida Kahlo in the context of the great changes that were on going in the arts of that period. The musical score is absolutely wonderful.