into her I found her sharp wit to be quite entertaining: a newly released documentary on Frida Kahlo provides further understanding of her as a person.

Frida Kahlo’s life has been a frequently retold tale. Rediscovered in the 1980s, she has been the subject of numerous books and films, each presenting a different perspective on her story. Additionally, there have been multiple art exhibits focused on her, with dozens taking place in the year 2020 alone.

Kahlo’s story has been so well-documented and so thoroughly disseminated that one wonders if it is even possible still to find a new angle on the artist. This is the sizable task that the longtime film editor and first-time director Carla Gutiérrez sets for herself in her new movie on the artist, simply titled Frida.

Gutiérrez’s efforts to bring a new perspective to Kahlo’s narrative are two-fold. She has meticulously sifted through the artist’s journals and other writings in order to allow Kahlo to tell her own story in her own words. In this way, Kahlo becomes the primary narrator of the film, spoken by Fernanda Echevarría del Rivero in a poignant delivery. Additionally, Kahlo’s world serves as the primary visual influence in the film, as Gutiérrez also incorporates a wealth of archival footage from the period and from Kahlo’s personal life. This footage, often intimate and honest, offers a more personal and diverse look at the iconic artist.

In her second creative endeavor, Gutiérrez takes a daring approach by incorporating animation into several of Kahlo’s paintings, giving them a chance to become a group of individual performers. She revealed that she had some reservations about this decision. “It’s a difficult choice to make when dealing with an artist of Frida’s stature and the strong emotions surrounding her,” Gutiérrez explained. “It’s comparable to tackling a franchise like Star Wars with a large and passionate fanbase.”

Gutiérrez’s animations serve as subtle yet significant alterations to the work of the Mexican artist. These changes could include adding movement, saturating colors, or focusing on specific details. For example, in Kahlo’s painting The Broken Column, which portrays the artist’s deteriorating spine as a Greek column with many cracks, Gutiérrez has modified the artwork by further breaking down the column and depicting it as crumbling before the viewer’s eyes. In other instances, Kahlo’s own images are incorporated into the animation, creating personal connections between her life and her art. Gutiérrez clarifies that these interventions were not intended to change the original meaning of the artwork, but rather to evoke emotion.

In general, the animation serves to amplify the message conveyed by the paintings, directing attention towards the emotional impact of specific details and creating links between the artwork and Kahlo’s personal life. According to Gutiérrez, incorporating Frida and her art in the film allowed for a deeper understanding of how her inner world depicted in the paintings correlates with significant moments in her life.

black and white picture of a woman painting

By expanding on these connections, the film’s deliberate pace encourages audiences to linger and closely examine the art, potentially forming their own unique connection with it. Gutiérrez explained that her aim with the animations was to recreate the experience of deeply engaging with Kahlo’s artwork, much like she does herself. She shared, “There are pieces that I spend a considerable amount of time with, delving into the intricacies. I wanted to find a way to bring that same experience to viewers. For me, animation was the perfect method to guide viewers through the emotional and narrative threads of a painting. Frida’s works are known for their wealth of information and emotional depth.”

By allowing Kahlo to share her own story in her own words, Gutiérrez believed that she was humanizing her, rather than keeping her confined to an iconic figure whose image is plastered on countless items, from coffee mugs to tote bags. “I was able to really get a sense of her personality,” Gutiérrez explained. “Through this process, I truly got to connect with her and hear her voice.” This is one of the refreshing aspects of Frida. The narrative voice that Gutiérrez has pieced together from Kahlo’s writings and documents is diverse and multifaceted. At times, Kahlo’s loneliness and vulnerability are evident, such as when she expresses her disappointment about not being able to spend much time with her husband, Diego Rivera, while they are living in the United States, as he is always either painting or involved in affairs. “When she speaks about her own frailty, it breaks her away from being solely an iconic figure,” Gutiérrez stated. “She was a complex and imperfect woman who desired a great deal of attention.”

During other occasions, Kahlo expresses herself coquettishly and enchantingly, especially while starting her renowned affair with Soviet dissident Leon Trotsky (along with his assistant). She confidently proclaims, “It’s beneficial to engage in physical intimacy, even if one is not experiencing love.” Alongside these portrayals of Kahlo, there are others – a bold challenger of societal gender norms, a curious explorer of her own sexuality, and a frank, bashful Kahlo, depicted while sketching outdoors. Throughout it all, her language retains a sharp and pleasing edge. “I delighted in hearing her sharp wit,” Gutiérrez chuckled.

Kahlo is depicted as down-to-earth and having a sharp wit, with a vibrant appetite for life. However, she is also a fragile and sensitive individual who turned to art to cope with the challenges of her painful existence. The piece is more of a collection of memories that come together to form a portrait of Kahlo, rather than following a specific narrative or destiny. This adds to the genuine aura that surrounds Kahlo and contributes to her immense global following. According to Gutiérrez, Kahlo was incredibly honest and gave importance to her own emotions and inner world. She made the ordinary struggles of women relatable and significant, which is why she resonates with such a wide audience.

Gutiérrez expressed that embarking on directing was a daunting but refreshing experience for her. “The decision to direct and edit was nerve-wracking, but ultimately successful,” she shared. She hinted at upcoming projects and her goal to continue handling both directing and editing roles in the future. As for Kahlo, this project serves as a heartfelt tribute to her devoted fans around the world. “It’s incredible to see it receive a global release due to her widespread popularity,” she remarked. “Being able to connect with art enthusiasts worldwide is a precious gift.”