Frida

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

Frida Kahlo made her mark in the 1930s and ’40s as a female artist who wasn’t afraid to express her sexuality. Thankfully for us, in the movie that means a lot of Salma Hayek portraying her sexually free spirit…um, which means she gets naked. But following her rise to notoriety and nudity in the movie is only the beginning of the history lesson. (Ninety percent of you may stop reading…now.) This two-disc marathon provides volumes more information on the artist, including numerous interviews with Julie Taymor (commentary, American Film Institute Q&A, interview with Bill Moyers) that illustrate just how much she researched the project. The music of Frida is also meticulously dissected, with a feature on Lila Downs (whose work peppers the soundtrack), Hayek interviewing score director Elliot Goldenthal, and footage of Hayek recording her singing performance from the film (watch her guzzle cheap wine to calm her nerves!). There’s also a number of minor featurettes on everything from scouting locations to visual effects. If you’re interested in more than just Salma Hayek, this in-depth set has all you need. (Did we mention Salma Hayek’s in it?)

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