Frida Kahlo’s movie biography is a breathtaking whip of fresh air directed by Julie Taymor with the main characters portrayed by Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina. I love the movie as it's near masterpiece with only a few shortcoming but the way my heart beat and mind raced as I watched Frida’s life unfold, left me wishing for more though her story had finally come to an end after 2 hours and 3 minutes. Frida’s life is more than a movie, more than a story but an experience. A glimpse into one of the world’s best artist’s troubled but exhilarating life.
The plot of “Frida” is pretty simple, the story of a great artist, her beginning, her rise to stardom and the threads sewn to her fate. Yet the story has its twists and turns. Frida lives a carefree life, she gets into accident, she starts painting, she begins to walk again, studies under Diego and goes on to battle herself, her demons and the world. Viewers watch s Frida tries to pave her way in the world as not only an artist but a free woman.
The cinematography for “Frida” is nothing short of beautiful. A movie shot in 2002 depicted to look like the early 1900’s and it still holds as I watch the movie in 2017. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the trolley accident for many reasons. The gold dust lays against Frida’s skin with a glow that perfectly contrasts her skin, clothing and the lighting, When the trolley tips over and crashes the glass breaks like someone actually cracked it compared to it being breakaway glass. The final moment of Frida lying at the bottom of the trolley within its cracked boards, blood covering her body with a scarlet tint as the gold dust falls onto her is a magnificent sight. The editing, sounds and special effects are intertwined in a gorgeous fashion.
The acting was great from every character but Hayek and Molina stole the movie’s spotlight as they should. There were times where I completely forgot that this movie is a portrayal, and not the real life people being filmed. Hayek embodies Frida like no one could have ever. If there is a reboot in the future it should not happen as these actors set the bar high. There were times where I downright hated Molina’s portrayal of Diego. His slick talking and charms were so cheesy, but of all, the way he treated woman, especially Frida, left my nerves boiling. The acting leaves you speechless with your mouth wide open, tongue tasting the floor, but as soon as you manage to retract your tongue, close your mouth, the movie open it with ease.
Despite my praise, there are moments that felt off with the movie. The pacing was fine for the majority of the movie but sometimes things feel either too slowed down or are completely glossed over. Throughout the film we get insight into what Frida thinks of politics. After becoming a student under Diego she participated in marches across Mexico but the marches are never elaborated on. Viewers only see about 10 seconds of the march before it's on to the next scene. As I said the acting is great and overall the screenplay is fine but the moment where Diego finds out about Trotsky’s affair with Frida, the acting from Molina seems to fall .Of all the things Diego is passionate about throughout the movie, once he learns that he’s been cheated on, he is speechless but Frida is fired up. Maybe Diego finally got his medicine so the scene feels right but maybe he could have broken down making the scene believable.
Despite those few shortcoming, the movie “Frida” is a near masterpiece. The film’s many attractions had such amazing synergy. The costume designs and casting were perfect as I felt I was transported to Mexico in in the 1900’s. Although I enjoyed the movie, had I not set myself up to analyze the movie from start to finish, I would have enjoyed it even more. The love story of Frida and Diego has its sweet moments but for as many times as we see the two kiss lovingly, we are shown their spats and fights and breakups that also tear our hearts apart. Had I not been tasked with the job of dissection, I should have cried when Frida cried and broke classes as she should and drank as I cut my hair. The movie is that intense and I love it. Frida was a powerful woman plagued with hardships which the movie captured perfectly.
The plot of “Frida” is pretty simple, the story of a great artist, her beginning, her rise to stardom and the threads sewn to her fate. Yet the story has its twists and turns. Frida lives a carefree life, she gets into accident, she starts painting, she begins to walk again, studies under Diego and goes on to battle herself, her demons and the world. Viewers watch s Frida tries to pave her way in the world as not only an artist but a free woman.
The cinematography for “Frida” is nothing short of beautiful. A movie shot in 2002 depicted to look like the early 1900’s and it still holds as I watch the movie in 2017. One of my favorite scenes in the movie is the trolley accident for many reasons. The gold dust lays against Frida’s skin with a glow that perfectly contrasts her skin, clothing and the lighting, When the trolley tips over and crashes the glass breaks like someone actually cracked it compared to it being breakaway glass. The final moment of Frida lying at the bottom of the trolley within its cracked boards, blood covering her body with a scarlet tint as the gold dust falls onto her is a magnificent sight. The editing, sounds and special effects are intertwined in a gorgeous fashion.
The acting was great from every character but Hayek and Molina stole the movie’s spotlight as they should. There were times where I completely forgot that this movie is a portrayal, and not the real life people being filmed. Hayek embodies Frida like no one could have ever. If there is a reboot in the future it should not happen as these actors set the bar high. There were times where I downright hated Molina’s portrayal of Diego. His slick talking and charms were so cheesy, but of all, the way he treated woman, especially Frida, left my nerves boiling. The acting leaves you speechless with your mouth wide open, tongue tasting the floor, but as soon as you manage to retract your tongue, close your mouth, the movie open it with ease.
Despite my praise, there are moments that felt off with the movie. The pacing was fine for the majority of the movie but sometimes things feel either too slowed down or are completely glossed over. Throughout the film we get insight into what Frida thinks of politics. After becoming a student under Diego she participated in marches across Mexico but the marches are never elaborated on. Viewers only see about 10 seconds of the march before it's on to the next scene. As I said the acting is great and overall the screenplay is fine but the moment where Diego finds out about Trotsky’s affair with Frida, the acting from Molina seems to fall .Of all the things Diego is passionate about throughout the movie, once he learns that he’s been cheated on, he is speechless but Frida is fired up. Maybe Diego finally got his medicine so the scene feels right but maybe he could have broken down making the scene believable.
Despite those few shortcoming, the movie “Frida” is a near masterpiece. The film’s many attractions had such amazing synergy. The costume designs and casting were perfect as I felt I was transported to Mexico in in the 1900’s. Although I enjoyed the movie, had I not set myself up to analyze the movie from start to finish, I would have enjoyed it even more. The love story of Frida and Diego has its sweet moments but for as many times as we see the two kiss lovingly, we are shown their spats and fights and breakups that also tear our hearts apart. Had I not been tasked with the job of dissection, I should have cried when Frida cried and broke classes as she should and drank as I cut my hair. The movie is that intense and I love it. Frida was a powerful woman plagued with hardships which the movie captured perfectly.
Garser Dismuke is a writer for Blerdsonline.com as well as Garserspoetry.com
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