I have to say, I admire Salma Hayek for what she has achieved in her life as an actress and enjoy her in the movies that I have seen her in, but was a bit dubious when I rented Frida about what I would find. I had seen her as the sexpot in several Robert Rodriguez movies and wondered whether she would be able to pull off a sympathetic and realistic portrayal, or whether it would just be 'Salma puts on the unibrow and paints'. Sorry, thinking aloud, and no disrepect to Frida, she was an amazing individual. Well, Salma truly pulls it off: her portrayal of Frida Kahlo is heartfelt, passionate and true without being overdramatic. She shows Frida as a strong person, despite her physical frailty, full of dignity, talent and passion for life. Her Frida was not afraid to be honest and vulnerable, but was also no saint. Alfred Molina is wonderful as the wayward Diego Riviera, a man as flawed as he was talented, whose tempestuous relationship with Frida was the inspiration for many of her carthartic paintings, and caused her much joy and suffering. The director has used many of Frida's paintings to chapter the film, explaining the emotional inspirations for them through the events of Frida's life. She also has included them in montages that give parts of the film a surreal quality that moves it on from the usual biopic format. As well as an artist, Frida was also a social activist, and the film is filled with interesting characters from the different spheres of her life. Over-all this was a affirming film, portraying Frida's life and relationship with her husband as a triumph of love over adversity, and giving the impression that life in her 'second' marriage to Diego was less tempestuous, and I came away feeling upbeat. After doing some post-movie research however, it seems that she and Diego still seemed locked in a what may be called in modern times a co-dependent, rather destructive (for Frida anyway) situation, that left me feeling sad that Frida loved Diego so much that she put up with his many affairs that left her feeling so despondent, as witnessed by her harrowing paintings. Ok, enough of the essay. Movie was original, Salma was outstanding and went beyond all expectation. A painterly masterpiece in it's own right.

Salma Hayek pushed for years to get this bio-pic made and I thank God she did. Easily one of my favorite movies of all time and I usually hate bio-pics. To see the way this movie was pulled off was amazing. The story of an artists rise to fame but more about the hardships she endured during her life. Compelling stuff and worth the time. Expand your mind and watch it. You will not be dissappointed.

A pretty good insight into the life of great Artist Frida Kahlo. Here's the plot and gist of it: Some spoilers ahead. Frida Kahlo is a unique and talented artist with a crazy life. She gets into a gruesome bus accident, has to have painful surgery, marries a famous man, finds out her husband is cheating on her with many women, goes to New York, feels lonely, has affairs of her own, goes to France, falls in love with Leon Trotsky, Communist affair starts, and I won't tell you the rest, but it's very tragic. It will probably make you cry.

Pretty well done movie about the life of Painter Frida Kahlo. Salma Hayek did a fine acting job. Follows her life from about 1922 to when she died in the 50s. She had some real tragedy in her life when she was in a horrble accident which caused permanent pain and surgery through her life.She married painter Diego Rivera. pretty intesting biography on her.