Directed by:
Julie TaymorCinematography:
Rodrigo PrietoComposer:
Elliot GoldenthalCast:
Salma Hayek, Alfred Molina, Valeria Golino, Mía Maestro, Roger Rees, Diego Luna, Patricia Reyes Spíndola, Margarita Sanz, Geoffrey Rush, Amelia Zapata (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
Brilliant colours that bring Frida Kahlo's Mexico City to vibrant life combine with a captivating performance by Salma Hayek to make director Julie Taymor's Frida a fascinating film. Starting and ending with Frida on her deathbed, the film spans the famous painter's life from her teenage years to her death at the young age of 47. From start to finish, Frida is portrayed as a relentlessly energized, self-righteous, headstrong, assertive woman. She had liberal views and a socialist political stance. She was bisexual and promiscuous. She drank and abused painkillers, sang and danced, and fearlessly poured her pain and beauty into her paintings. At the age of 18, Frida was horribly injured in a bus accident. Though she learned to walk again, she lived her life in physical agony, enduring multiple surgeries, and eventually needing a wheelchair. Yet her condition did not stop her from having an exciting, tumultuous life as the wife of famed artist and womaniser Diego Rivera, who mentored her in her own work and encouraged her passions. While Frida's life is the main focus, her work is always present and the action of the film often fades into paintings and vice versa. However, the film only hints at the recognition and worldwide display that her painting received after her death. Taymor has created a lively and dramatically emotive film with Frida, capturing her endearing resiliency with colour, music and, of course, art. (Lionsgate Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews (3)
Sensual, cute, and tragic, that's Salma Hayek giving herself in her life role, thanks to which I will have this actress in high regard for a long time. The "Rodriguez girls" label is gone, here Salma plays an incredible concert, greatly supported by Alfred Molina, who captivates every moment he appears on the screen. Although it's purely a biographical film, there's also room for some creative visual tricks, with the visit to New York standing out the most. Shortly after it ended, I'm almost boundlessly excited and admire Salma for fulfilling this dream of hers.
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An extraordinary film, in many ways deviating from established templates. At the same time, it is the life project of the actress Salma Hayek, who has been striving to capture the life destiny of Frida Kahlo for many years and has sacrificed a lot for the creation of this film (not only from a financial perspective). Frida Kahlo was an extraordinary personality of Mexican culture and social life of her time. Frida is not just a film about the successes and disappointments, loves, and inner demons of a painter, but also about the mindset of cultural elites of the first half of the 20th century, and feminism and the position of women in society. Sensitive direction, and excellent performances by Alfred Molina and Hayek (the memorable appearance by Norton as a financial magnate). The depiction of Spanish colonial architecture and colorful period costumes is also interesting. A problem for the acceptance of this film by a wider audience may be the certain exclusiveness of the subject - after all, Kahlo was not a sports star or Princess Diana... Overall impression 80%.
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Excellent biographical film, which captures reality beautifully abstract in some moments, which fits perfectly with the life of this interesting artistic personality. The beauty is also in the fact that she was a woman who got involved in historical events. Nevertheless, she remained true to herself, which can be seen as both a positive and a negative. It's up to you how you approach her life. Salma Hayek delivers a stellar performance here and is convincing both as a young girl and as a heartbroken woman. Some elements of the film are incredibly unique and elevate the biographical drama even further. I would have never believed that Alfred Molina could play a lover.
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