Considered by many as one of the greatest painters from Mexico, Frida Kahlo was an extraordinary surrealist artist from the 1930s and 1940s best known for her self-portraits. The public performance license movie Frida Kahlo...Between Passion and Pain offers a biographical exploration of this artist’s career and personal life through interviews with art experts, friends, and family; archival footage; and the words of Frida herself from her personal journals and most importantly through her art. Librarians could use this title for their biography collection development.
From an early age, Frida dealt with extensive health issues including contracting polio and an accident when the bus she was traveling in was hit by a streetcar, resulting in a fractured spine and pelvis. It was from these experiences that Frida was pushed into art while recovering from the accident. The drive to paint portraits was the result of the isolation that Frida felt during this period. Diving into the personal life of Frida, the film explores her marriage to Diego Rivera, a well-known muralist, his influence on her work, their open relationship, and eventual divorce. Also explored is Frida’s political activities and her desire to contribute to the communist revolution which was also informed by her youth in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution.
What this film offers is a clear understanding of how Frida’s life was expressed in her art and the impact it had internationally in the United States as well as in Mexico. The format of this film and the clear division into segments highlighting the different aspects of her life allow for this film to be easily incorporated into the classroom or other relevant events. Unfortunately, the grainy archival footage and pace of the film may not keep the attention of those not fully engaged with the work of this artist. This educational documentary is recommended for art film collections specifically focused on the work of Frida, Mexican artists, and surrealists from the 1930s and 1940s but is an optional purchase for general art history movie libraries. Optional Purchase. Aud: H, C, P