Frida
Quick Take: A biography of artist Frida Kahlo, who channeled the pain of a crippling injury and her tempestuous marriage into her work.
Director
123 minutes
running time
2002
year released
Drama
genre
R
rating
Torifan’s Rating... 
Torifan’s review: I developed an interest in the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo years ago due to pop star Madonna's obsession with her. I have her biography, and I love her works. There is a sadness there. Her life was sad, in ways, but she also celebrated it with her work. When I heard about this film version of her life, I wondered how good it would be.
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this film was. Salma Hayek was an excellent choice to portray Frida, and her Oscar nomination was well-deserved. The entire cast were very good, in fact, and I was especially surprised at how Frida's husband Diego Rivera was portrayed. I had believed he was a terrible husband and a bad match for Frida, but in this film, he comes off as very concerned for her and supportive of her, despite his shortcomings. This film focuses on a celebration of her life rather than dwelling on the negatives that almost destroyed her-a tragic bus accident that would scar her in many ways for life, a husband who could not be faithful, and tensions with her family.
I would have liked to see a little bit more of the motivations that sparked some of her work, particularly the disturbing ones, but what was shown was well done. Director Julie Taymor uses unique and beautiful images to bring the paintings to life, and to tell Frida's story. If you appreciate art, and artists, you will enjoy this film.
Cast:
Hayek, Salma
Maestro, Mía
Zapata, Amelia
Usigli, Alejandro
Luna, Diego
Molina, Alfred
Bravo, Lucia
Golino, Valeria
Spíndola, Patricia Reyes
Navarro, Loló
