Frida

Frieda y Diego
Painting vs.  Movie

     

     In our first class session we saw some of the extras from Frida like the interview with Bill Moyers and Julie Taymore where we got to see clips of the movie and hear the director talk about her work. All of this leading up to me watching the movie really piqued my interest and I think made me appreciate Frida so much more once I watched it a few days later. I really appreciated the few scenes where I was looking at one of Frida's "paintings" but it was really the actors painted to look like one of Frida's works. 

What the Water Gave Me
Frida Kahlo

    
     I was also more aware of the music in the film. The interview with Lila Downs pointed out the the parts that she sang and how it conveyed so much passion and later sadness. I was able to watch the transformations Frida went through. Her art was very personal and she painted the hard times she went through that changed her life, like after she lost her baby and after Diego cheated on her. 
     
I usually try to avoid seeing too much about movies before I watch them but now I see that I watch much more thoughtfully when I know more about the film. 

     

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera

     Another thing that intrigued me about this film was Frida and Diego's relationship. She sought out her future husband's opinion on whether or not she should pursue painting as a career. She held him in such a high regard, but was able to walk away from him when she needed to. She was also strong enough to go back to him when she wanted to. She seemed to always do what was right for her with her relationship and with her painting.