Madstone, the new major independent movie theater in Albuquerque, only picks the best films to show and "Frida" is a beautiful film.
It has all the beauty of one of Frida Kahlo's paintings, with an emphasis on the pain. It chronicles the story of Ms. Kahlo's life from the day she first spoke to Diego Rivera to the day her work was finally showcased in her home, Mexico.
If you don't already know, Frida Kahlo is famous for her self-portraits featuring a very psychological theme of pain in her work. This idea is not taken lightly in "Frida."
Every camera angle, costume, set dÇcor and visual was alive with a tragic beauty. Although the opening showcases some hint of this, it does not become apparent until the bus crash that resulted in Kahlo's crunched spine and left her either in pain or bedridden for the rest of her life.
This short, yet important scene is constructed with such artistry it becomes poetic. The slow motion of the bus as it spins toward a brick wall, the glass as it breaks over the passengers of the bus and the final shot that shows a passenger's gold dust sprinkling down over a twisted and bloody Frida Kahlo, is just a small dose of what follows in the remainder of the film -- the perfect blend of pain and beauty.
If Kahlo could've seen the film, she would be proud.
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The acting in this film is brilliant, especially Salma Hayek's portrayal of Kahlo. With the small addition of a unibrow, Hayek bears an uncanny resemblance to Kahlo and her paintings.
This role is very different from others Hayek has played in the past and she was portraying an intensely real and well-respected person -- far from the stereotypes of Mexican-Americans and Hispanics so often seen in film and television these days.
The cast in "Frida" is comprised of strong, talented actors, especially the performance by Alfred Molina, who played Frida's cheating/loyal significant other, Diego Rivera. His charisma as Rivera could rival Kahlo's and it's not hard to imagine why she loved him, even if he was a "panz¢n."
"Frida," directed by Julie Taymor, is one of the best movies to come out this year. It is now showing at Madstone Theater 6311 San Mateo Blvd. N.E. For more information and ticket prices call 872-4000 or visit www.madstonetheaters.com.
