At the moment of this post, there are 16 documentaries, movies, and specials about Frida Kahlo. What makes the latest documentary, Frida, different is that director Carla Gutiérrez had access to hundreds of letters from Frida and uses the artist’s voice to tell her story. The final result is a fantastic look into, not only Frida’s art but also her mind.
The use of Frida’s voice pulls you into her story. We get to hear her pain when she was bedridden after her accident. We also get to hear her thoughts about the cultural elite she meets when she goes to New York and we also learn more about her painting process. Fernanda Echevarría del Rivero gives voice to Frida and gives us the tenderness and strength that we associate with Frida. It feels eerie in a way to hear this voice talking to you as Frida but after a while, you are engulfed in it and start feeling all the feels of Frida’s story.
One of the things that stands out about the documentary is hearing Frida’s inner thoughts on the world that she lives in. In her letters, she wrote about how boring the people in New York were because they just sat around and compared what they had to those around them. When Frida was at these parties no one equaled her prowess and she was bored being around them.
As I stated at the beginning there are plenty of movies and documentaries about Frida but this one stands out not only because of the voice but also in the way the paintings come to life. Hearing Frida talk about her paintings and seeing them come to life in front of your eyes just gives the viewer a new perspective on her art. Her paintings and photographs are an extension of her and seeing them in this way feels incredible. If you are a fan of Frida you should watch this documentary.
Watch our interview with Director Carla Gutiérrez!
Final Thoughts: Frida not only gives the viewers a fresh take on documentaries but gives us a deeper understanding of the inner thoughts of Frida Khalo herself. The use of dialogue puts the viewer into her mindset. The documentary is a great way to learn more about the woman and the process of her art.
Kid-Friendly: If your children are familiar with Frida they will not see anything that will come as a surprise. The language that Frida uses might stun some children but that is what makes this documentary so unique. Kids will see a more raw Frida than they have seen before and will learn more about who she is. There is some nudity in the movie in the form of pictures of Frida topless.
Violence: There is no violence in the documentary. There is talk about the accident that Frida went through but no images of the aftermath.
An intimately raw and magical journey through the life, mind, and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo, FRIDA is told through her own words for the very first time, drawn from her famed illustrated diary, revealing letters, essays, and candid print interviews — and brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork. The feature film directorial debut of acclaimed editor Carla Gutiérrez (RBG, La Corona), FRIDA posits a striking context as to why the artist – and her art — remains as powerful as ever.