Carla Gutierrez Captures Frida in Animated Living Color

 

I paint because I need to.  This is an ideology strongly identified with the life, mind and heart of iconic artist Frida Kahlo in her own words. With Carla Gutiérrez’s directorial debut documentary “Frida” we hear for the very first time Kahlo’s story in her own words drawn from her diary, revealing letters, essays, and print interviews brought vividly to life by lyrical animation inspired by her unforgettable artwork. We become immersed in Frida’s interior world, fears, arduous relationships, and events that drove her indelible artistic creations.

Gutiérrez vibrantly guides us through Frida’s complex relationship to her own work, navigating the tension between art as commerce and painting for pleasure and self-knowledge. With reverence, thoughtfulness, and the color of pure emotion, Frida invites us to get to know one of the greatest artists of the 20th century in a completely new way. As this immersive and creative director shared at the World Premiere, “…in paintings of Frida, I saw a piece of myself in each painting.  It felt like her pain, passion ad face were looking back at me.”

Born in 1910 to an atheist father, she initially wanted to become a doctor.  Instead this rebellious, independent spirit had two different women living inside. The Frida who existed prior to her tragic crash and the one who struggled to exist in the aftermath.  All of this is gorgeously illustrated through the film by means of animated Kahlo’s paintings to share her artistic journey, including her struggles with making the decision to illegally abort or keep the child she desperately wants to carry to term.  It’s disheartening that this is still an issue women grapple with today as a result of Roe v Wade’s reversal.

With a wicked sense of humor, it’s not lost that her career had a few setbacks due to men being king and ruling the world.  Kahlo’s words have never rung more true than right now. Her artistry and unique sense of tapping into raw emotion makes her portraits permeate one’s soul and spirit.

Frida is a triumphant directorial debut and gives audiences a front row seat to one of the most amazingly gifted artists of our time – male or female.