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Frida Film Analysis Essay

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Frida and the Role of Women During the 1930’s and 1940’s, women of the world held virtually one role and one role only…homemaker. This was no different for the women of Mexico, except for one woman in particular, Frida Kahlo. Frida refused to accept the current ideals of society and the accepted social norms by engaging in things that few women in history ever had. Frida was involved in politics, she was promiscuous with men and women, she painted pictures of herself in ways that had never been done before, and she wore the clothes of her indigenous people as opposed to the current fashions of the world. The movie Frida showcases all of these qualities. The director, Julie Taymor, uses the symbolism of these things to show how Frida …show more content…

Frida had an affair with Leon Trotsky while he was living in her home. Trotsky was only one of the many men and women with whom Frida had an affair with while she was married to Diego Rivera. In the movie, it is even hinted at that Frida had an affair with Diego’s ex-wife. During the roaring twenties and on into the 30’s and 40’s, sexuality and promiscuity were beginning to become more prevalent in society. This new breed of women was called Flappers (About.com). Even though these women were viewed as being promiscuous for their time period, some women like Frida, were viewed as a novelty in society. Frida was far ahead of the times with her sexuality and once again, she did not care what was thought of her actions and how she was viewed by society. Director Taymor does and excellent job of portraying Frida as a promiscuous and sexually curious woman in the movie. There are countless times during the movie where Frida dances with a woman, kisses a woman, lays in a bed with a woman which was highly frowned upon in society during that time. Frida was a very skilled painter who did mainly self-portraits where she expressed her feelings and portrayed herself in unconventional ways. Frida would take some of the events of her life and paint them. For example, Frida painted the auto accident she was in that left her with traumatizing pain, the miscarriages she suffered as a result of the accident, the heartbreak she

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