Frida

[Ronin]

Apart from Harry Potter, i was able to see an enchanting movie called Frida this past weekend. Frida chronicles the all too short life of Frida Khalo, legendary Mexican artist....whose touch on canvas is chaotic, beautiful, and heartbreaking.

Salma Hayek effectively brings to life Frida Kahlo. her vision and her life were one, and Hayek does an amazing job filling a canvas of her own. Hayek wraps herself in the life of Frida, going to such lengths as to learn to paint and draw effectively...one can see her passion for the subject mirrored on screen. Sadly, such passion cannot even come close to that of the real Frida Khalo's...but then...in whatever medium, i'm not sure such representation could be expected.

Hayek works with some fantastic co-stars....Alfred Molina as the philandering artist Diego Rivera to name the most important. Paramount in Frida's life was her marriage to former mentor, Rivera. The relationship is painful, heartwarming, and at times, cool and reserved. Hayek and Molina work in tandem here, the love of two who are almost too alike...becoming reality before us.

Geoffrey Rush as Leon Trotsky, Ashley Judd, Antonio Banderas and Ed Norton as Rockefeller's son Nelson all add their very credible talent to support Hayek in her work of passion.

Frida is a riveting story of love, loyalty, individuality and undying strength. Excellent movie...for not only its performances, but also the impressive welding of Khalo's work with the movie itself. Brilliant work here.

[Elrenia]

Yes you are right Ronin it is a wonderful movie :grin:

And for those who know a bit the life and the art of Frida Kahlo...the movie follow Kahlo's life in a chronoligical order and the bus accident is filmed as almost a religious moment from what Kahlo wakes up both broken and reincarnated.

The paintings are in the center of the movie. And for once the nudity of Hayek is not exhibited in vain...Nudity in this movie shows her will...her strenght...

The only sad thing is that they sacrified her trip to Paris....We only see her writing post cards and go from one lover to another (including Josephine Baker) when you know that not only does her art was exhibited in the Mexico exhibition organized by the surrealism Marcel Duchamp but where she also met great painters like Breton, Picasso, Kadinsky, Ernst and Miro.. But then a whole movie would be necessary to describe this period..

I thought that the interpretation of the actors was honest, generous with a lot of emotions. And Alfred Molina has entirely captured the essence of Rivera.

A MUST SEE Movie ...and will have probably a lot of Academy Awards nominations...

:thumbs: :grin:

[Sindarin]

Excellent reviews of the film you two. :thumbs: I haven't seen the film as of yet, but I'm glad to hear it's a good movie. I've been an admirer of Frida Kahlo's paintings for years and have read a lot of books about her.

[Catz]

i muat admit to a sense of relief that they appear to have pulled this one off....i was a bit worried about it when i heard it was being made.....after all, Frida Kahlo is a larger than life character, as well as an intimate one....a complex woman...it would have been very easy to have ended up with "frida...the cartoon version" y'know?
and im very glad to hear that Heyek did a good job....its about time she got a role she could actually DO something with. Alfred Molina.......well, hes always worth a look, and the character of Rivera is just the sort of character based role he does so well...
While i dont think that any movie could truely capture the true essence of a creature likd Frida Kahlo in its entirety, im pleased that it appears that this one has caught at least a part of her magic and tragedy
:catz:

[Ilmarë]

Thank you Ro and Elrenia... sounds like a wondeerful movie... sadly again for me... one i probably won't ever get the chance to see... tho i may request it at the local Film Theatre.:grin:

[Ronin]

at least u have a local film theatre...geesh pfbbt

thanks sindarin, really lovely to hear...and glad u liked it just as much as i Elrenia :grin: :thumbs:

i know exactly what u mean kitty, i was either going to see Hayek's Frida or Seinfeld's Comedian...didn't want to spend time on a movie that only breached the surface of Frida Khalo's amazing life. of course, with such a life...no movie can truly do it justice, as with any medium of expression. with the limitations of film however, Frida ultimately succeeds in at least bringing a part of that magic alive...so, well worth the effort :)

[Catz]

well i must admit to having not taken too much notice of the lead up to this movie when i heard that Hayek had been cast.......unfair of me , but i was assuming that they were just going to treat it lightly....lets be honest, Hayek is usually window dressing isnt she? no matter what her talent may be....so im very, very glad that you guys liked it so much, and that Hayek finally gets a chance to show she can act, as well as pout:thumbs:
:catz:

[Ronin]

and get nude, don't forget she's gets nude most excellently...right along with her pouting and acting ;) lol
but u're right...apart from Desperado, she's never really had a blockbuster movie in which she was more than window dressing (even in Desperado she wasn't much more)..
it really is a breath of fresh air to see Hayek truly blossom as Frida...she does it wonderfully...and altho not perfectly...it is faithful...very much so.

[Catz]

*checks the hormonometer....off the scale!!! and gets out the emergency fire hose, and hoses Ronin down*
Calm down Ronin..............*turns off the hose and is confronted by a dripping wet fanboy*......well sweety.......we wouldnt want you to spontaneously combust now, would we?:naughty: ;) :p roflmao
Hon, in a movie about the life of Frida Kahlo.......nudity was hardly to be avoided...........im just glad they did it within the context of the story and not just as a cheap bums on seats ploy, as it all to often is.......
:catz:

[Ronin]

*laughs....the steam billowing off his dripping body*...thanks kitty...lol...i think i needed that cool down ;) :naughty:

aye, know it well...and it was refreshing to see the nudity expressed in such a way that it was essential and intregal to the story of Khalo...imho, its very sensual to have such sexuality presented in a realistic and natural way :grin:

[Catz]

*peers thru the steam at Ronin, and tosses him a towel* dry off pet......dont want you catching cold;)
and yeah Frida Kahlo was not one to hide herself in any way.......her sexuality was just , like her art.......a way of self expression, and a strong part of who and what she was......
:catz:

[Ronin]

*giggles*...hmmmm...thanks, i might be catching one at that ;)

very much so, and a very tenuous ability to display that on camera without it appearing as gratuitous...simply an amazingly well done movie...much bravo :grin: :thumbs:

[Catz]

*waves a hand in front of her face to clear a bit of the steam away*mmmmm and its a fine line theyd have to walk between gratuitous and necessary in this one......glad ot hear they didnt fall off it..........*eyes the dripping and quietly steaming Ronin* tho it appears to have had a profound effect in some quarters :o lol ;) :rolleyes: roflmao
:catz:

[Ilmarë]

:elfeek: *Ilm shakes her head... tossing him his clothes*... see what happens? You've scared everyone else off!! What is it with you and.. hosing???;) :naughty: lol lol .... *mutters under her breath*... can't take him anywhere.

[Iarfirithwen]

I read this article on Frida in the SFgate (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/10/11/DD120408.DTL) a couple of months ago (yes I know I live in Sydney ... I have a soft spot for the SF so I read the SFchronicle occasionally).

I must plead complete ignorance of the artist until I had read this article. But when I read it I got the impression this wasn't just something that Hayek got a part in but rather she was driving force behind it. I 'm glad to hear you all speak so favourably not only of the film but also the artist aswell. You've all help me to decide that I will definitely see it when it is released here. taa.

[Ronin]

U're completely right, Hayek spent some 7 (years) trying to get this film greenlighted. It really is amazing, she and the director bring some sense of both Frida's life and art to screen...which is a feat of itself. Glad u shall check it out, deserves the recognition.

[Cuiel Rilwen]

I've decided to watch this film when it hits us. I watched a programme on tv about films, where they brought up this movie, showed a couple of clips and even an interview with Hayek. And got myself a surprise since I'd made her into a mere shampoomodel in my small mind, see there I went again and did that! Loved the part of the interview when she explained that she had made this move about a hairy woman, the total oposite of whats considered beautiful and sexy in the states!

I really don't know much of Khalo at all, but I've seen some of her pictures, real colourful and vibrant. I think this lookes like something I would enjoy.

[Ronin]

LOL...well, no worries, not all of think what is considered beautiful and sexy in mass media truly is ;)

Glad u decided to see this one, it is a brilliantly made and wonderfully acted movie :thumbs:

[Catz]

all the write ups here have been wonderful too.......im hoping to get to see this next week.......its been a very popular movie.......cant wait
:catz:

[Cuiel Rilwen]

The film- festival is starting in a few days in my town, so I guess Frida wont be put up 'til after its all over. And even if it is, I dread the thought of last years experience when trying to get FotR- tickets in the middle of the festival...no phone, no internet, mile- long queues, no cards accepted, no info...verymad verymad verymad Guess I'll wait and rather look at what the festival has to offer in he meantime.

[Ronin]

and i thought i wanted a local movie festival, maybe not ;)

[Catz]

lol........festivals are fun.........but they can wreak havoc with normal viewing patterns........fortunately where i live there are several cinemas within a half hour radius, so generally if ones got a festival on, the others are free..........thank goodness ;)
:catz:

[Ronin]

ach...i need to be around a better film society

[Cuiel Rilwen]

Well, I can't imagine other theaters being so ignorant of their other customers...or is it a trade habit? Would hate to think so. Anyways my list of films to see is so long I don't think I'll have any troubble with filling my spare time!:grin:

[Ronin]

lol...this is very true

[Ilmarë]

We have an excellent film theatre here ... so i'm all booked up to go see Bowling for Columbine, Morvern Caller, Donnie Darko, 28 days later and The Magdalene Sisters - a film by Peter Mullan (Trainspotting) which was filmed in Dumfries and quite a few of my students took part in it. It won the Venice Film Festival last year, beating off The Road To Perdition!!
Might also book for 8 Femmes and The Quiet American.

[Cuiel Rilwen]

Saw the poster for Bowling for Columbine when I was in town earlier today, but I didn't have the time to go look. What's the plot?

[Miruvor]

It's an investigative documentary about why Americans kill each other with guns at a rate 10 times higher than any other country. (Or was it 100 times?)
Roper and Ebert today were proposing nominations for Oscars, and said if "Bowling for Columbine" does not win the Oscar for best documentary, they might as well pack up and go home.
It has some humor and some thought provoking things. There is an interview with Matt Stone of South Park fame. Also, it shows the actual security video tapes of the cafeteria shooting at Columbine High School. That part is not funny, but it hits you in the chest.

[Catz]

we have a thread on Bowling for Columbine in this forum Cuiel
hopefully along with seeing Frida this week ill also get in Samsara and 8 Femmes.......heheh yeah its a busy time for movie lovers isnt it?
:catz:

[Ronin]

Love Matt Stone ;) lol

[Cuiel Rilwen]

Thanks, Catz, I'll go check it out!:grin:

[Catz]

Love Matt Stone
doesnt everyone?:o ;) lol
:catz:

[Ronin]

lol....now there's taste ;)

[Catz]

lol but ofc;) lol
saw Frida tonite..........loved it.......the aesthetic sensibility of the film was so painterly.....it was wonderful to look at.......but far and away above that is the way they handled a complex and contradictory woman.........without neatening things......without making her predictable............and by making her very very fallible and human......it was beautiful.........Salma Hayeck was passionate about this project and it shows.....and molina was as usual, excellent.........this was a wonderful movie
:catz:

[Cuiel Rilwen]

aawww I just can't wait...!

[Ilmarë]

lol I bet u see it before i do Cuiellol.... and Matt Stone... genius!! Excellent in Bowling for Columbine.

[Ronin]

beautiful, glad u liked it kitty

[Cuiel Rilwen]

Looks like I'll have to wait for Frida. Here's the link to the festival programme if any of you guys are interested in having a look.

http://www.destinasjontromso.no/eng_default.htm

Some norwegian films, or from other scandinavian countries, but also films from all corners of the world, and a lot of them are to narrrow to have made it to this screen if it wasn't for this. Have to admit I haven't bothered to get in line for tickets, its so much fuzz...seems like everybody's going mad...bad attitude I know! They show films outside too, on a large screen in the markedplace. Some years they even make "screens" of snow! Oops, I'm off topic again...sorry!

[Ronin]

no worries, love the hear about local festivals....if i can't do it, at least someone else can ;) :grin: