"FRIDA" documentary on Amazon tells Frida Kahlo's story in her own words for first time

The new documentary film "FRIDA" by filmmaker Carla Gutiérrez uses the late Mexican artistic icon Frida Kahlo's illustrated diary and intimate correspondence to tell her story in her own words; it's streaming in Amazon on Thursday.

Frida Kahlo's distinct image and iconic paintings are omnipresent art symbols recognizable by most people even 70 years after her death, creating a false sense that everything there is to say about the Mexican painter has already been said.

But filmmaker Carla Gutiérrez cuts through that by doing what no one has done before in retelling the legendary artist’s story on-screen: use Kahlo's own words.

In her new documentary film "Frida," Gutiérrez uses the painter’s illustrated diary, intimate correspondence and candid print interviews to verbalize the artist’s innermost thoughts. Those emotions beautifully come to life through the lyrical animation of Kahlo's unforgettable artwork.

The combination of these elements in Gutiérrez’s feature film directorial debut results in a refreshing narrative that is as introspective as Kahlo’s paintings, most of which are self-portraits.

“I really felt that there was an intimacy that we could capture with our film and bring her in a different way to viewers,” Gutiérrez told NBC News. “For us, it was about always capturing the essence of Frida and her spirit.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/frida-documentary-movie-amazon-own-words-diaries-rcna143153

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