FRIDA
I saw a Movie, (a few weeks ago), about a Mexican Artist called Frida Kahlo that was Directed by Julie Taymor. It was called FRIDA.It was release by Miramax Films in 2003.
BACKGROUND
When I first visited Mexico over 30 years ago I couldn’t afford to buy a Lithograph that she had reproduced from her famous Paintings.
SOME HISTORY
If you have never been to Mexico I should tell you that the People who live there originate from two sources. The Native Mexicans and the Spanish who once ruled their. Frida looked exotic because she must have had a Spanish Heritage.
THE STARS
Salma Hayek plays Frida Kahlo
Alfred Molina plays Diego Rivera
Geoffrery Rush plays Leon Trotsky
Ashley Judd plays the very rich Lady, Tina Modotti
Antonio Banderas plays David Siqueiros
Valeria Golina plays Linda, (Diego Rivera’s second Wife)
Edward Norton plays Nelson Rockefeller
Mia Maestro is Frida’s Sister
THE MUSIC
The mustic was composed by Elliot Goldenthal, (he received the Golden Globe Award 2003 for the best original score in a Movie).
THE SONGS
The stars next to the songs my ratings on them.
1.Benediction and Dream ()
2, The Floating Bed ()
3.El Conejo ()
4.Paloma Negra ()
5.Self-Portrait ()
6.Alcoba Azul ()
7.Carabina ()
8.Solo Tu ()
9.El Gusto ()
10.The Journey ()
11.El Antifaz ()
12.The Suicide of Dorthy Hale ()
13.La Cavalera ()
14.La Bruja ()
15.Portrait of Lupe ()
16.La Llorona ()
17.Estrella Oscura ()
18.Still Life ()
19.Viva la Viva ()
20.The Departure ()
21.Coyoacan ()
22.La Llorona ()
23.Burning Bed ()
24.Burn It Blue ()
I do own this 1 disc Album and it is wonderful as
well.
<c>MY REVIEW:</c>
This Film is about the life of Frieda Kahlo.
It begins when a she is in an accident, (in 1925), and has so many injuries that she has to wear a body cast. The first painting she every did was paint Butterflies on her cast, (I wondered while I was watching this if it was a symbol for ’’Butterflies Are Free’’.
It takes a long time for her to learn to walk again. The days become boring so she decides to try and paint.
After she goes Home she takes some of her Paintings to a famous Mexican Artist, Alfred Molina. He is stunned when he sees them.
He decides to ’’introducer to the right People’’ who will want to buy her Paintings.
Frida wants more than a Business relationship with him. He divorces Linda and they become lovers. They believe in an ’’open relationship’’ and allow each other to have other lovers.
She then meets the Famous Mexican Artist Diego Rivera and they fall in love. Alfred Molina is ’’gone like the wind’’ out of her life.
At this time Leon Trotsky. (fearing he is about to be assassinated by Lenin and the People he help with the Revolution in Russia), makes a fast get away and ends up in Mexico.
Frida and Rivera meet him and they both become Trotskyites
(this is quite different from the Communist dogma of Russia).
Just as their relationship begins to develop Rivera is invited to visit New York City to paint some Murals on the wall of Rockefeller Centre. He paints Lenin in one of them.
While I was watching this Movie I had a de je vu moment, (If you saw the Movie about my Cousin-in-law, Margaritta Sarfatti called ’’Cradles Will Fall’’ that starred Susan Saran on then you will remember the scene where Nelson Rockefeller orders him to remove the face of Lenin). Rivera walks out of the Centre because he refuses to remove Lenin.
Frida and Diego Rivera get Married. It doesn’t last too long because she finds out that he has had an affair with her Sister Mia. Frienda has had affaris as well but never with a member of his Family. They get a divorce.
They can’t seem to stay away from each other and get married again. This time they agree that they will have an ’’open marriage’’ but they won’t have any affairs with anyone in the Family.
By this time they decide to see what Paris is like and the sail to France.
Frida discovers that she may love Women more than Men, (up until this point her lovers were Men). She has an affair with Andre Breton’s Wife, Tina Modotti and Josephine Baker, (the black United States Citizen who took Paris by storm).
During the Movie her hair went from being long to having it cut shorter as she wanted to attract Women. At times she looked like a Man with her short hair and smoking a cigar.
These are’’free spirits’’ and we go though at least a decade of this there on and off love affair with each other and other People.
David Siquerio shows he has a love of life when he says,
’’I’d rather have an intelligent enemy than a stupid friend’’! Tina Modotti does help her on her way to become a famous Painter.
As you watch this Movie you will see some of her wonderful,
’’surrealistic’’ Paintings.
I will end my review here because I never tell the end of a Movie.
MY THOUGHTS
The Music was wonderful and the Cinematograph is fabulous. Salma Hayek and Alfred Molina were perfectly cast. The supporting Cast Members played their parts very well.
There a nude scenes, (including one frontal one), so I don’t thing Children under the age of 16 should see it.
If you would like to know more about Frieda Kahlo her web site is:
https://artcyclopedia.com/artists/kahlo_frida.html
If you have not seen this Movie yet I highly recommend that you do.
Comments are always welcome. Ratings don’t matter.
©LL2003