Frida Kahlo in the cinema: all the films about the painter and where to see them

On July 6, 1907, he was born Frida Kahlo in the city of Coayacán, in Mexico. She was the daughter of Guillermo Kahlo, a photographer born in Germany but living in that country from a very young age, and of Matilde Calderón. Despite the fact that since she was little, she had to fight with a serious disease such as polio, which left sequelae on one of her legs. However, in those years, he developed an interest in disciplines such as sports, encouraged by his father. But at the age of 17 he again encountered misfortune in his life.

When leaving school, he had a fatal accident that required dozens of operations to recover. It was around this time that the painting finally came to stay. It is believed that a friend of his father noticed that he had a lot of talent and suggested that he continue to develop that ability. And so he did. While it all started as a distraction, it later turned into a true passion. It would not be a coincidence that years later I met the muralist Diego Rivera and together they will form a very interesting creative duo.

Frida Kahlo’s life has inspired millions of women around the world with her courage, bravery and her overwhelming and countercultural personality. Kahlo became synonymous with struggle and is a symbol of feminism and women’s liberation in every sense. So much so that after his death in 1954, his figure was immortalized in a true pop culture phenomenon.

Only few people in history manage to be an icon of this style. Frida Kahlo, Che Guevara, Marilyn Monroe and Madonna, to name some of the most prominent. That is why his life has been brought to the big screen. On this occasion, we will tell you about the fiction films that she stars in and where you can see them to get a little closer to this wonderful artist.

Movies about Frida Kahlo: what they are and where to see them

3. Frida, living nature

The first feature film about Frida Kahlo is from 1983. It is about Frida, living nature starring actress Ophelia Medina. Directed by Paul Leduc, the film begins with the artist in her last days trying to remember what her life was like. Thus, the film offers a splendid, thoughtful and moving account of the most important events that the painter had to experience, as well as her most important friendships and relationships. He obtained 10 nominations for the Ariel Awards and took 8, including Best Director and Movie. Is available in YouTube.

2. Frida

This is perhaps Frida Kahlo’s most popular film. Salma Hayek was in charge of the interpretation of the artist in a film that offers a journey through her life, particularly focused on the complex relationship with her husband Diego Rivera and then with Leon Trotsky. In 2002, the Mexican actress was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actress for this role, but lost to Nicole Kidman, who that year won for playing Virginia Woolf on The Hours. The film is available on the platform Hulu.

1. Coco

The most recent representation of Frida Kahlo in the cinema has been in the Disney Pixar film, Coco. The film follows the story of Miguel, a young man who aspires to become a musician despite his parents’ refusal. That will take you on an adventure in the Land of the Dead, where you will learn about your family legacy. Kahlo’s animation featured the Mexican actress’s English voice Natalia Cordova-Buckley and in Latin Spanish of Ophelia Medina, who had already been Frida in 1983. It is available to see in Disney+.