Take art documentaries to the movie theater. In this case, the focus is Frida Kahlo. This is the ambitious aim of the On Display project, a series of documentary films that, since 2011, examines the work of artists such as Edward Hopper, Paul Cézanne, and Johannes Vermeer. With collaboration from leading museums and galleries around the world, the insights of historians and critics, and technology that ensures screen presentation with the highest fidelity, these films explore the artistic legacy of major figures and offer an alternative to traditional documentary formats.
Distributor Acontracorriente, which has previously brought other films in the series to theaters, will premiere the documentary Frida Kahlo, directed by Ali Ray, in 50 theaters on May 29. The film connects with everyday life, helping audiences grasp the true significance and relevance of the artist. Kahlo is often discussed as a pop icon, but the film argues that her life and work resist simplification and color alone.
Frida Kahlo has appeared on screen before. The artist has inspired both fictional films and documentaries. Notable projects include Frida, naturaleza viva (1983), directed by Mexican filmmaker Paul Leduc, and the iconic biographical film Frida (2002), directed by Julie Taymor and featuring Salma Hayek. This documentary looks at Kahlo with fidelity to her work, personal history, and enduring legacy, while maintaining a distinct critical voice.
Get ahead of time
The most relevant portion of Frida Kahlo centers on showing how far the artist’s influence extends and why her work and personality matter today. The film explores Kahlo in the first person, presenting a detailed examination of her self-portraits, and it discusses her difficult relationship with Diego Rivera and how that dynamic shaped both her life and her paintings. The narration also conveys the emotional tone of Kahlo’s friendships through intimate correspondence, offering insights into how she saw herself at different moments in her life.
Frida Kahlo builds bridges between the artist’s work and contemporary times by addressing how she represents the body, especially the female body, and how she confronts subjects that others avoided. The documentary delves into her sophisticated approaches to gender and identity. It also recounts Kahlo’s major physical challenges, rooted in a tumultuous relationship with Rivera and her enduring struggle with fertility. The film conveys how chronic pain and a life marked by medical interventions influenced her studio practice and her subjects.
Frida Kahlo uses visual storytelling to show how these experiences appear in her artwork, including difficult personal moments such as abortion and medical battles. By presenting these aspects with sensitivity, Ali Ray’s documentary invites viewers to see how myths and icons can be better understood through the artist’s work and life.