Watch Frida

Frida, a 2002 movie directed by Julie Taymor, is a biographical drama based on the life of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo. Salma Hayek plays the lead role of Frida, while Alfred Molina, cum Geoffrey Rush, play her husband Diego Rivera and Leon Trotsky, respectively. The film chronicles the turbulent life of Frida, from her childhood illness that left her disabled to her tumultuous marriage to Diego Rivera and her affairs with men and women.

The film is a kaleidoscope of culture and the arts, taking us on a journey that explores the beauty of Mexico's rich cultural heritage and the artistic brilliance of Frida herself. The film kicks off with Frida's childhood, depicting how she contracted polio that left her with a permanent limp. Her father notices her artistic talent early on and encouraged her to pursue it.

Frida meets Diego Rivera when she was still a teenager, and they quickly fall in love. The film fast-forwards to when the couple is married, and their relationship is put to the test by Diego's infidelity. Frida, in turn, also embarks on affairs with men and women, revealing her sexuality's fluidity. This infidelity trope runs as a thread throughout the movie, showcasing how Frida's art was often influenced by her personal life, love, and pain.

Frida's artistic journey is as much a part of the film as her personal life. Salma Hayek's portrayal is breathtakingly emotional and raw, capturing much of the spiritual essence of the artist's life. We see Frida grow into her artistic genius, experimenting with colors, forms, and shapes, painting her own pain and love on canvas. The film visually captures Frida's art, bringing it to life in a way that showcases the beauty and tragedy of the artist's paintings.

One of the fascinating aspects of Frida is that it presents Frida and Diego as political figures, placing them in the center of Mexico's political turmoil at the time. Frida and Diego were both communists, and their art was also heavily influenced by the revolutionary spirit. The film shows their participation in political rallies and their interaction with prominent political figures of their time. Both Hayek and Molina deliver excellent performances and have great chemistry as the two famous painters-turned-political-activists.

The film's cinematography is stunning, with a color scheme that reflects Kahlo's art, specifically the 1943 "The Two Fridas." The film doesn't shy away from portraying the pain and suffering that Frida underwent much of her life, including her multiple miscarriages, surgeries, and amputation. But through it all, the film never loses sight of the artist's unwavering spirit, her boundless creativity, and her immense resilience.

In conclusion, Frida is a powerful film that delves into the life of one of Mexico's greatest artists, Frida Kahlo. Salma Hayek delivers an outstanding performance that is both raw and emotional, capturing Frida's unique spirit and artistic genius. The film's approach to Frida's life is unconventional, as it boldly explores the various facets of her life, including her sexuality, political ideologies, and emotional pain. Overall, Frida is a mesmerizing film that accurately portrays the beauty and tragedy of Frida Kahlo's life and art.

Frida is a must-watch for art enthusiasts and anyone interested in the life of an artist.

Frida is a 2002 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 3 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 61.