Of all the films we’ve watched during the semester, Julie Taymor’s 2002 picture “Frida” stands out to me the most in terms of perspective. There are moments in the film when scenes start as paintings and then transform into live action set pieces. After the bus crash, there’s an animated scene of skeletons in medical uniforms describing her injuries. Then skulls appear in a half-conscious Frida’s eyes before she looks up to see human doctors discussing her condition. This goes beyond a blend of fantasy and reality. Because Frida’s psychological perspective is so present, each of these interpretations of events are real through her subjectivity. Frida Kahlo was a surrealist painter, a style that visually represented the unconscious. I think it’s useful that the director highlights the imaginative capacity of Friday’s psychological state, especially as her body is immobilized and continues to atrophy. This focus on the resistant, complex mind, one that birth memorable surrealist works, helps give me a greater appreciation for her as an artist.

“Girl with Death Mask”