Frida (2002) - full transcript
"Frida" chronicles the life Frida Kahlo shared unflinchingly and openly with Diego Rivera, as the young couple took the art world by storm. From her complex and enduring relationship with her mentor and husband to her illicit and controversial affair with Leon Trotsky, to her provocative and romantic entanglements with women, Frida Kahlo lived a bold and uncompromising life as a political, artistic, and sexual revolutionary.
[Benediction and Dream by Lila Downs]
♪ Y ella es flama que se eleva ♪
[And she's a rising flame]
♪ Y es un pjaro a volar ♪
[And she's a bird in flight]
♪ En la noche que se incendia ♪
[In the burning of the night]
♪ El infierno es este cielo ♪♪
[Hell is this heaven]
Careful, guys. This corpse is still breathing.
Try to get me there in one piece.
- Hello, Professor.
- Hello, Frida.
Diego Rivera is back in the auditorium.
With a naked woman.
Why is this whore still here?
Tell me.
Tell me, mi amor.
Are you planning to have her after lunch
or have you fucked her already?
Lupe, please, don't start!
You don't think I don't know what's going on?
You must think I'm an idiot!
- I can't work like this.
- Yes, you can.
Your food and your slut.
That's all you need to paint your pinche murals.
- Get out!
- And don't come home!
Don't come home and give me
one of your speeches
about the artist, and the people,
and your fucking revolution!
You only care about yourself,
you piece of shit!
So much for lunch.
Although, I could eat you, perhaps.
I have eaten female flesh before.
Yeah!
Wrapped up in tortillas.
Tastes like the tenderest young pig.
Watch out, Diego! Lupe's coming back!
Fucking punks!
Come on, you little anarchists!
Come and light another
of your firecrackers if you dare!
Just keeping you honest, panzón.
Panzón?
Do I look fat to you?
Frida, we found the most beautiful fabric
for my wedding dress today.
- Fantastic.
- Costs a fortune.
- Mama?
- Yes?
- Are these ripe?
- They should be. Let me see.
Yes, they are fine.
These need a day or two.
Maybe you'll get married, too, one day.
- One can only hope.
- Lunch is almost ready.
Go get the artist.
I love this one. It's beautiful.
I like it, too.
They're busy with the wedding.
Cristina is so excited about her dress.
Good. Everyone should be excited
when they get married.
I suppose. If that's what you want.
What do you want?
I don't know. I just don't think
that marriage is for everyone.
You need a good reason to do it.
Just like with anything else.
What do you think matters
most for a good marriage?
A short memory.
- Why did you get married, Papa?
- I can't remember.
So I could have you.
- Concentrate, everybody.
- Wait, where is Frida?
Adriana, go tell your sister to hurry up.
I always wanted a son.
Matilde, everyone, eyes to the camera, and...
Come on, or we'll miss our bus.
- Frida!
- How much is the calaca?
Frida, come on!
- The bus!
- We'll take the next one.
No, no, no! Come, come, come!
Watch out!
Anyway, I just don't think
he's completely apolitical. That's all.
But that's because you read it
after you read Marx.
- You always read things in the wrong order.
- That's ridiculous!
Why should it matter
what order you read it in?
Because if you have already read Marx,
then, of course, Hegel is gonna seem political.
But the truth is that the idea of history
as a dialectic, it just predicts Marx.
- Is that gold? Real gold?
- Which is not the same as affirming this specifically.
For the ceiling of the opera house.
The spinal column was broken,
as were the collarbone and two ribs.
Pelvis is broken in three places.
A metal rod entered the right side of
the body and came out the vagina.
The right leg has 11 fractures.
And the foot was crushed.
Will she ever walk again?
Let's make sure she lives first.
- Is Alex alive?
- Frida!
- Is he all right?
- He was hurt, but not terribly.
He was here yesterday
when you were not awake.
And Mama?
It was too much, Fridoucha.
They're at home.
How long have I been here?
Three weeks.
Almost there.
Gently, now.
- But there is nothing left for spend.
- I will sell some of my equipment.
- Another operation that probably won't work!
- No, listen!
- Maybe this time it will work.
- And then, how will you make money?
I'll paint portraits again.
Admit it, Guillermo. She'll never walk again.
Go on in, Alex. She's waiting for you.
Hello, ugly!
- They're beautiful.
- How do you feel?
Like I've been hit by a bus.
Come on, silly. Come, come.
Come and sit with me.
Look... It's my only good angle
at the moment.
No, it's not.
I like you this way.
You're easier to keep up with.
Spengler, because you love him.
Schopenhauer, because it's good for you.
Oh, Alex! You know I adore you.
I've missed you so much.
I told the doctor the handrail
had taken my virginity.
I'm sure he believed you.
You know, when I get out of this cast,
I'm going to show you
a couple of things I still remember.
Okay.
What?
My aunt and uncle are leaving for Europe.
And they've invited me to come along.
But that's wonderful.
When would you leave?
Soon.
Next week.
How long will you be going?
We're going for two months.
Afterwards, I might stay on at the Sorbonne.
I will be staying on.
Did I tell you that I'm going to walk again?
- Yes.
- Do you believe it?
Of course I do.
You'd better!
Because you're going to miss it.
I want you to leave
before I finish this butterfly.
How are you feeling?
How am I feeling?
I can't even remember
what it felt like before the pain.
- Isn't that horrible?
- Dr. Farill is coming on Monday.
He's bringing a back specialist,
Dr Cervantes.
I feel like some rich girl
with a new suitor every week.
But all my suitors have turned into doctors.
I'm not a rich girl, Papa.
How come you never ask me
about my plans any more?
You used to always say...
"Tell me your plans, Frida!"
What are your plans, Frida?
Right now, I'm a burden.
But I hope to be a self-sufficient cripple
one day.
After that, I don't know.
You are not a burden.
My love.
See, here.
We have something for you.
Matilde! Come.
We noticed that there was no more
room left on your cast, so...
- Now you look like a gringa movie star.
- Let me see.
- These things are expensive.
- It's too much money.
Mama, Papa, I have a surprise!
Careful, now!
Don't worry! Don't worry! It's all right.
I need the ochre.
- Is it ready?
- Almost.
- No, now. I need it now.
- Okay.
Señor Rivera!
- Diego!
- Who are you? What do you want?
I have something important
to discuss with you.
- I'm working.
- I'll wait.
I don't have time to chat with schoolgirls.
I'm not a schoolgirl, panzón.
Okay, come on up here.
No, you come down.
What?
Look, I didn't come here for fun or to flirt.
I've done some paintings, which
I want you to look over professionally.
And I need an absolutely
straightforward opinion of my work.
You were that girl in the auditorium.
Yes, I was. But that has nothing to do with now.
- I just want your serious opinion.
- What do you care about my opinion?
If you're a real painter, you paint,
because you can't live without painting.
You paint or you die, okay?
I have to work to earn a living,
so I don't have time to fool around
just for vanity.
If I'm not good enough, I have to do
something else to help my parents.
Leave the best one.
Go home and paint another one.
If this one's any good, I'll come
and look at that one on my day off.
Orozco is a true artist. He's tremendous.
And Siqueiros could be great, if he'd pull
his head out of his own ass and look around.
Comrade Rivera. What a nice surprise.
What if I told you that easel
painting like yours is finished?
That it's headed for the trash like
other elitist, bourgeois pastimes?
I'd say, "Cut the propaganda."
This is very good work.
- You have real talent.
- Oh, come on!
I'm not looking for your compliments.
- I want a serious critique.
- But I'm being sincere.
These are very original paintings.
- None of the usual tricks.
- But that's not specific!
You have to trust a true compliment
as much as a critique.
Yeah, well, some people have
told me not to trust what you say.
They say if a girl asks your opinion
and she's not a complete fright,
you'll gush all over her.
I need you to tell me one thing honestly.
Do you actualy believe that
I should continue to paint?
Yes.
Yes.
You'll like Tina.
She's a brilliant photographer.
One of the few with real taste.
You know Alvarez Bravo?
I know his work. It's good.
I'll introduce you to him.
He'll want to photograph you.
- Without clothes, of course.
- Of course.
Another thing about these radicals.
They're a little dangerous,
but they definitely throw the best parties.
- Ah, at last! ll mostro!
- Tina!
This is Frida Kahlo.
She's a wonderful painter.
- She wants be a wonderful painter.
- Ah, don't be shy.
Nobody really thinks their own stuff
is good except Diego.
He's the only one who's sure.
Go find Siqueiros.
He's been badmouthing you again.
You, come with me.
Everyone, I have someone for you
to meet. This is Frida Kahlo.
She came with Diego. Another pretty girl.
She's quite a talent, no?
Julio Mella, the Cuban.
Tina took the last photo of him.
She was with him on the street
when they gunned him down.
Incredible!
- They're like clay in his hands.
- It must be that body.
No. It's the way he looks at you.
He finds beauty in all your
imperfections. It's irresistible.
You'd never think it to look at him,
but he's had half the women here.
I'm sorry, did you come with him?
Oh, we're just friends. I'm Frida Kahlo.
- I'm a painter.
- A painter. No wonder.
I'm Lupe Marín. I'm his wife.
I was his wife.
Good luck to you.
Badmouth him all you want, Diego.
While we've been talking about socialism
over drinks at parties for 10 years,
Stalin is making it work. He's achieving it.
Achieving what? His only big idea so far
is to throw out all the real thinkers in the land.
- He just threw you out.
- No, not just me.
No, not just you. Mr Trotsky.
A man who plays the martyr.
When in truth, he was rejected
by his whole country. Good riddance.
No. He had to run for his life.
Stalin would have had him shot.
That's his version of socialism.
Kill anyone who disagrees with you.
Some people have to get shot
in a revolution.
Well, I prefer evolution.
Educate the poor.
Mobilise the workers.
Rise like a small tide.
You! You'll have your revolution,
and kill half the poor to save them.
Diego, this from a communist
who is getting rich
painting for the government
and with a patron.
I can't help it if he rich have good taste.
The rich don't have good taste.
They pay someone
to have good taste for them.
They don't hire you, because you're good.
They hire you, because
you assuage their sense of guilt.
They use you, Diego,
and you are too vain to see it.
No, Diego! No!
Basta!
Whoever takes the biggest swig,
can dance with me.
Bravo!
I'd rather have an intelligent enemy
than a stupid friend.
Shall we?
[Alcoba Azul by Lila Downs]
♪ La noche irá sin prisa de nostalgia ♪
[The night will go on without nostalgia's haste]
♪ Habrá de ser un tango nuestra herida ♪
[Our wound will become a tango]
♪ Un acordeón sangriento nuestas almas ♪
[A bloody accordion our souls]
♪ Seremos esta noche todo el día ♪
[We will be this night all day long]
♪ Vuelve a mí ♪
[Come back to me]
♪ Áma me sin luz ♪
[Love me in the dark]
♪ En nuestra alcoba azul ♪
[In our blue bedroom]
♪ Donde no hubo sol para nosotros ♪
[Where there was no sun for us]
♪ Ciégame ♪
[Blind me]
♪ Mata mi corazón ♪
[Kill my heart]
♪ En nuestra alcoba azul ♪
[In our blue bedroom]
♪ Mi Amor ♪♪
[My love]
- And more women!
- I'll make sure that happens, okay?
Miss Kahlo.
You may have to hold me up.
That Torres is a good man,
but he's got to be much more careful.
What is this? Your studio?
Well, the benefits of being party leader.
You can arrange for the drinking
to be done close to home.
And now that you are officially a comrade,
I believe, I can let you see it, if you like.
Hey, listen... If you think
I'm going to sleep with you,
just because you've taken me
under your wing, you're wrong.
Me?
I was painting murals and womanising
in peace when you came along.
Anyway, sex is like pissing.
People take it much too seriously.
In Russia? Oh, my God! In Russia,
everyone was fucking like rabbits.
- Well, this isn't Russia.
- No. Thank Christ.
I have a proposal.
We will not sleep together.
We will solemnly swear,
right here, right now...
- that we will be friends only.
- Fine.
Comrades, colleagues and friends for ever.
Did you arrange for that?
Cost me a fortune.
I have a scar.
Let me see it.
You're perfect.
Perfect.
I always wanted a man
with melones bigger than mine!
- You know what I've always loved?
- What?
A girl with cojones.
These are good, Frida. I love them.
You were probably painting
better when you were 12.
That's nonsense.
I could never paint like this.
I couldn't. I'm serious.
I paint what I see.
The world outside.
You...
You paint through here.
It's wonderful.
I can see why you're so successful
with women.
We'll have to get married, you know?
What?
The thing is...
I think it's quite possible
that we were born for each other.
- So, we should marry.
- But you don't believe in marriage.
Of course I do.
I've had two wives already.
Exactly. You can't be true
to only one woman.
True, yes.
Faithful, no.
Unfortunately, I'm physiologically
incapable of fidelity.
Oh, really?
Yes, a doctor acquaintance
of mine confirmed this.
What a convenient diagnosis.
Is fidelity that important to you?
Loyalty is important to me.
- Can you be loyal?
- To you?
- Always.
- Good.
Because I love you, panzón.
Fridoucha!
I accept!
What a beautiful bride you are!
- Don't touch him!
- Oh, you think I'm going to hit him?
But he is divorced twice.
He's had God knows how many children.
And he's an atheist, Guillermo.
Perhaps you have forgotten this,
and forgive me for reminding you,
but I am a German Jew,
and you married me, remember?
Yes. He's also a communist.
A communist who is generous enough
to pay off our mortgage.
It's like the marriage
of an elephant and a dove.
Your toe?
It's been a long time.
- I don't want to talk.
- I told you I wanted you to come.
- I said I don't want to talk.
- Please!
Please!
Cristina!
Please!
- I give them six months.
- Six?
I give them two.
I don't believe in marriage.
No, I really don't!
Let me be clear about that.
I think, at worst, it's a hostile political act,
a way for small-minded men to keep
women in the house and out of the way,
wrapped up in the guise of tradition
and conservative religious nonsense.
At best, it's a happy delusion.
These two people who truly love each other
and have no idea how truly miserable
they're about to make each other.
But, but... When two people know that,
and they decide, with eyes wide open,
to face each other and get married anyway,
then I don't think
it's conservative or delusional.
I think it's radical and courageous
and very romantic.
To Diego and Frida!
Diego and Frida!
♪ Borrachita me voy ♪
[Girl, I'm leaving]
♪ Para olvidarte ♪
[To forget you]
♪ La quiero mucho ♪
[I love her so much]
♪ También me quiere ♪
[She loves me too]
♪ Borrachita me voy ♪
[Girl, I'm leaving]
♪ Hasta la capital ♪
[To the capital]
♪ Pa' servirle al patrón ♪
[To serve the boss]
♪ Que me mandó llamar ♪
[Who called me]
♪ Anteayer ♪
[The day before yesterday]
[La Borrachita by Tata Nacho]
You're crazy! You know that? You're crazy!
Son of a bitch!
- You left these legs.
- Oh, Lupe!
- You left these legs, Diego.
- Lupe!
You give up these beauties
for these matchsticks?
These peg-legs? Feel! Mira!
Viva la revolución!
My mother was wrong about you, you know?
She said you were an elephant,
but you're not.
Elephants are strong and courageous
and they defend their mates.
You're a toad. You even look like a toad.
And you look like a dog. Dove, dove!
Did I say "dog"? I meant "dove".
You're my little paloma.
What will people say about such a pair?
They'll have never seen a better match.
- Thank you.
- For what?
For making a fat old crazy
communist a happy man.
Sit! Eat!
Mi amor!
Good, eh?
What a wonderful mole!
Lupe's special recipe.
Well, you've mastered it.
I can't cook to save my life.
She brought it down for us
while you were sleeping.
- Brought it down?
- Mmm.
She's in the apartment upstairs with my kids.
I let her have it till she finds a place in town.
I'm not just passing through, you know?
I'm here to stay!
- Is that what you came to tell me?
- I'm here to stay.
So, stay out of my damn kitchen!
You like mole?
- So-so.
- Well, he lives for it.
So, if you're here to stay,
you'd better learn to make it.
I was so angry. He didn't come home
for three days. Pass me the cilantro.
So, I took two of his damned Aztec
idols that he adores, you know...
and I smashed the pieces of clay
in the boiling pot of beef stock
and told him it was sopa azteca.
- Medea! Did he eat it?
- He did.
- Did he like it?
- He loved it.
Of course, until he found out.
Then he got sick, he got furious!
It didn't make me feel any better.
And it definitely didn't stop him from cheating.
I want to help.
Brute!
Get out! Come on!
Marie! Come on, let's go.
Time for a nap.
The other night, I was very drunk.
I know. It's all right.
Diego has never belonged to anybody.
He belongs only to himself.
And that, of course,
is what makes him so desirable.
He is the best of friends
and the worst of husbands.
Diego will never be anyone's husband.
Not really.
We'll see.
You'll know it's over when he gets
the next commission out of town.
He'll say he 'll send for you,
then he never does.
- Señora Rivera!
- Yes? - Yes?
What do you think?
- The tits lack... gravity.
- Oh, come on!
Eat your pozole while it's still hot.
It's not like you to be late for lunch, Diego.
I was at the Ministry explaining
why a history of the Mexican people
is an appropriate subject
for the Mexican National palace.
Again?
When I work, they scream about my politics.
When I don't work,
they scream about the delays.
It's a farce.
Hijo de puta!
- That model, huh?
- Yes.
It was just a fuck, that's all.
I've given more affection in a handshake.
Well, that makes me feel so much better.
- Was she good, at least?
- Not very.
Too bad. She had such a great ass.
When you get home, take a good bath.
We're going out tonight.
♪ Y ahora sí maldita bruja ♪
[And now wicked witch]
♪ Ya te chupastes a mi hijo ♪
[You've already sucked on my son]
♪ Y ahora sí maldita bruja ♪
[And now wicked witch]
♪ Y ahora le vas a chupar ♪
[And now you're about to suck]
♪ Y a tu marido el ombligo ♪
[On your husband's navel]
♪ Y ahora le vas a chupar ♪
[And now you're about to suck]
♪ Me agarra la bruja ♪
[The witch grabs me]
♪ Me lleva a su casa ♪
[She takes me to her quarters]
♪ Me vuelve maceta ♪
[She turns me into a flowerpot]
♪ Y una calabasa ♪
[And a pumpkin]
♪ Me agarra la bruja ♪
[The witch grabs me]
♪ Me lleve al cerrito ♪
[She takes me to the hills]
♪ Me sienta en sus piernas ♪
[She sits me on her lap]
♪ Me da de besitos ♪
[She smothers me with kisses]
♪ Ay dígame, ay dígame, ay dígame, usted ♪
[Oh, tell me; oh, tell me; oh, tell me, please
♪ ¿Cuantas criaturitas se ha chupado usted? ♪
[How many children have you sucked dry?]
♪ Ninguna, ninguna, ninguna ¿no ve? ♪
[None, none, none, can't you see?]
♪ Que ando en pretensiones de chuparme a usted! ♪♪
[It's you who I'm trying to suck the life out of!]
[La Bruja traditional song]
More tequila!
Rivera! Hey!
Yeah, you! You know what I think
of you with your stinking girls?
Why don't you get the fuck out of here, huh?
This is a bar for workers,
not for government whores!
I tell you that kid was one of Siqueiros's boys.
Siqueiros is a hero to these fucks,
but what he's actually done, nothing!
I put socialism on the government walls.
I've got the fascists calling me the most
dangerous subversive in the country,
and I'm the traitor to the Party!
- Soon, we'll have no one left to drink with.
- It's not funny.
I'm not kidding.They'll kick you
out of the Party for the palace mural.
They won't have to. I quit.
So, you'll quit and keep on working.
That's all that matters to you anyway.
I've been offered a show in New York.
A solo exhibition at the new Modern Museum.
It'd be a wonderful entrée.
I could get commissions out of it.
I thought you'd be excited.
They don't care that you're a communist pig?
They can't afford to.
All the greatest painters are communist pigs.
That's wonderful news. When do you leave?
As soon as you decide to come with me.
We'll take Gringolandia by storm!
Dear Cristi, the invasion
of Gringolandia has begun.
They are never gonna know what hit them.
New York has Diego on fire.
What's your impression of New York,
Mr. Rivera?
Magnificent.
There is no reason why any artist
born in our two continents
should go to Europe for inspiration.
It is all here, the might, the power,
the energy, the sadness,
the glory and youthfulness
of our American lands.
I see the majesty that Diego sees.
But all that American comfort is a myth.
While the rich drink their cocktailitos,
thousands are starving.
Diego is working almost constantly
to prepare for his show.
So, I have to find ways to entertain myself.
Breaking all records,
over 50,000 people have lined up
outside New York's new
Museum of Modern Art
to see the paintings of Mexico's
greatest artist, Diego Rivera,
the most talked-about man
this side of the Rio Grande.
Señor Diego Rivera!
The gringos are friendly enough,
but the most important thing in
Gringolandia is to have ambition.
To succeed in becoming somebody.
And the somebodies are
the only ones that interest them.
I despise this pretension.
La gran caca interests me not at all.
Of course, Diego loves it.
He's like a big Mexican piñata
with enough candy for everyone.
Everything about this country inspires him.
Two loose eggs, hot cinnamon bun,
two black coffees. Anything else?
- It's fine.
- Thank you.
Are you guys ready?
Well, I never thought I'd hear myself say this,
but you were better than your husband.
You weren't upset about that, were you?
I mean, he said you wouldn't be.
Oh, he did, did he?
Well, you weren't the first
and you won't be the last.
Why do you put up with it?
Look, Diego's how he is,
and that's how I love him.
I cannot love him for what he's not.
Anyway, my sweet Gracie,
I get along just fine.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- It's a lot of wall.
- It always is.
Gentlemen, please, please!
I have to get back to work. I'm sorry.
Are you a painter, too, Mrs. Rivera?
No. Just killing time.
She's much better than me. You'll see.
What did the doctor say?
He might be able to improve the pain,
but the bones would have to be reset.
Blah, blah, blah; blah, blah, blah.
The usual speech. I know it by heart.
I'm pregnant.
Oh!
Can your body take it?
If it can take you, it can take a little Dieguito.
No, no, Frida.
He's not very optimistic.
This is not...
I can't bear to think of you in pain.
I'm used to pain.
This is not...
I'm not a good example of...
It's not a good time.
There's the Rockefeller commission.
Detroit. Chicago.
All that travelling. No, it's too much.
You really want this baby, Frida?
- I do.
- All right.
- All right.
- All right, let's try and have this baby.
Shh, shh! Listen, listen!
He's reciting the Communist Manifesto.
- She's lost a lot of blood.
- I want to see her.
She needs to sleep. You should
go home and try get some rest.
- Frida!
- You should be in bed, Mrs. Rivera.
- The baby came out in pieces.
- Come with me. Let's go back to bed.
- It never formed properly.
- We can try again, but you must rest.
- He's my son.
- Mrs Rivera. Mrs Rivera.
I want to see him!
What did you do with him?
I want to see my son!
- Mr. Rivera.
- Hey, hey!
- What did you do with him?
- All right, chiquita, I'll take care of it.
- Will you?
- I promise. I promise.
- What the hell is this?
- Breakfast.
You trying to kill me?
I need fuel to work.
Listen, panzón, if you get any fatter,
it's gonna be you in the hospital next time.
I don't believe in God, but I thanked Him
every day that He kept you safe for me.
Really?
I told Him He's got a lot of explaining to do.
From now on, I'm going to get Abby Rockefeller
to bring my breakfast over from 21.
Frida?
Frida! You're here.
I left him.
And that was his parting gift?
I should have been there for you.
You're here now.
She'll throw a fit, if I let her damn plants die.
We fought so much.
Sometimes, I would regret
that I ever married her.
I would think how I hated her.
When you do enough damage to one
another, you begin to think that way.
Then she gets sick, and I tend her garden.
You'd seen my work.
- You knew my politics when you hired me.
- Yes.
I showed you the sketches.
- I discussed them with you and your father.
- Yes.
So, what the hell were you expecting
from me? A line of dancing girls?
No, but nor was I expecting
a portrait of Lenin.
Now, let's be honest. In the sketches
that you showed me originally,
it was just some anonymous worker.
He transformed himself into Lenin
of his own accord.
No, you transformed him into Lenin,
because they took shots at us in the paper.
Do you really think that my family
is influenced by newspaper hacks?
We would've defended you.
I will defend you against any attack,
because the work is thrilling, as always.
But a portrait of Vladimir Lenin
will offend many people,
in particular my father.
See, you're putting me
in an impossible position,
so I'm asking you to, please,
change this one detail.
It's against my principles.
Yes, well, you've adjusted your principles
to come to our parties and eat at our table,
so I hope you will reconsider.
You've got quite a crowd out there.
Half of them think you're the devil,
half of them think you're a hero.
Tell me honestly what you think.
If you lie down with dogs,
you should expect fleas.
No, seriously. This is really frightening me.
- Why?
- Because I'm actually wondering if he's right.
Perhaps I am being foolish.
Risking too much.
Diego, you can't lose.
Forget about artistic integrity.
You've done better ones than this
and you'll do more.
But whatever happens,
you have aroused people,
you've made them get
passionate about their ideals.
Ther's not another painter in the world
who can say that.
He could walk in here tomorrow
and tear it down.
- You'd still have won.
- Yeah, maybe.
He doesn't have the balls.
Diego.
Señor Rivera, I must ask you one last time
to reconsider your position.
I will not compromise my vision.
In that case, this is your fee,
paid in full, as agreed,
but your services are no longer required.
- It's my painting!
- On my wall.
It's the people's wall, you bastard!
- Diego, let's go home.
- Frida, we have to fight these bastards.
They tore down the wall,
but the painting is up here.
- I'll do it again and I'll use his money.
- What money?
We don't even have enough to get to Chicago.
We're not going to Chicago.
They cancelled the commission.
- It's time to go home.
- What?! My tail between my legs?
We don't belong here.
I am tired of these people
and I am tired of who you are around them.
You see that, hmm?
You want to go back to that?!
Yes, I wanna go back to that!
- I'm working.
- I can see that.
I brought you some lunch.
The doctor says you should eat more, for once.
Puta madre!
Diego!
All right, that's enough!
Diego!
Diego, stop!
Lord Cholotl, Prince of Darkness.
You're the best art critic there is.
Only you see what shit
this country has made of me.
Diego, you need help.
Frida, why do you and Diego
have separate houses?
Because we are two different people,
but our love makes us into one.
That's why we have the bridge.
So, you mean the bridge is your love?
Yeah. That's a good way to put it.
Then why is it such a small bridge?
He's not working. He's sick, he's depressed.
He says the people in this country
are like mules, they're so stupid.
And he blames me it all on me
for making him come back.
That's ridiculous.
Still, you are lucky to have him.
I feel so desperate every day.
Sometimes I even think of going back.
Well, you're not.
What about a job?
You could help me organise Diego's studio.
- Where do I start?
- Don't touch anything!
Diego!
Don't worry. He's a pussy cat.
Go downstairs and play! Now! Now!
Oh, my God!
My goddamn sister!
You're an animal!
- You're impossible!
- Frida!
Get out! Get out!
Frida!
I'm a beast, yes.
I'm an idiot, but it meant nothing, Frida, nothing!
Frida, talk to me!
There have been two big accidents
in my life, Diego.
The trolley and you.
You are by far the worst.
[Paloma Negra by Chavela Vargas]
♪ Ya me cansó de llorar y no amanece ♪
[I'm tired of crying with no ray of hope]
♪ Ya no sé si maldecirte o por ti rezar ♪
[I don't know whether to curse you or pray for you]
♪ Tengo miedo de buscarte y de encontrarte ♪
[I'm afraid to look for you and find you]
♪ Donde me aseguran mis amigos que te vas ♪
[Where my friends assure me that you're gone]
♪ Ya agarraste por tu cuenta la parranda ♪
[And you decided on your own to find a party]
♪ Paloma negra, paloma negra ¿donde, donde andarás? ♪
[Black dove, black dove, where, where are you?]
♪ Ya no juegues con mi honra parrandera ♪
[Do not play with my gallivanting honor]
♪ Si tus caricias deben ser mías, de nadie más ♪
[Since your caresses should be mine, no one else's]
♪ Y aunque te amo con locura ya no vuelvas ♪
[And even though I love you madly, don't return]
Get out!
Out! Out! Go!
♪ Paloma negra eres la reja de un penar ♪
[Black dove, you're the cage of suffering]
♪ Quiero ser libre, vivir mi vida con quien me quiera ♪
[I want to be free, to live my life with whoever I want]
♪ Dios dame fuerzas que estoy muriendo por irla a buscar ♪
[God give me strength for I'm dying to go look for him]
It's a limp up three flights upstairs.
I can't afford any furniture,
and it's cold at night.
But at least I know who's fucking who
in my own house.
Diego's not giving you any money?
I'd rather be poor.
She was my sister.
Not some model. My own sister.
- To hell with him.
- To hell with him.
Find some work.
Pay your own bills for a while.
I'll sell some paintings.
Not enough to cover your bar bill.
Don't get me wrong. I love your paintings.
I'm just not sure you should
count on them for a living.
They're tough, you know.
I mean, look at this! What the hell is this?
It was in the damn papers.
A man stabbed his wife 22 times,
and when the judge asked him
why he did it, he said...
"But it was just a few small nips."
- Who's there?
- The ghost of Frida Kahlo.
I remember her.
- How are you?
- Lonely.
Only you ghosts come to visit these days.
So, how is your Diego?
I don't know why I called him that.
He was never mine, never will be.
But he's fine. Painting, I guess.
- And you, are you also painting?
- Yes.
And I want you to pose for me.
You don't even have to leave the house.
I want to leave the house.
All right then. We'll go
somewhere different every day.
That sounds good. You've painted
everyone else in the family.
Yes. A long time ago.
Remind me what I wanted then.
You wanted to be your own person.
Frida?
She never liked you, you know.
She told me you would only bring me troubles.
There is something I must discuss with you.
A favour I need to ask of you.
You've got a lot of nerve to come here
asking me to do you favours.
It's not for me, it's Trotsky.
The Norwegians have expelled him.
No other country will take him,
and Stalin wants him dead.
I have appealed to President Cárdenas myself.
They have granted him asylum here in Mexico.
I want you to welcome him with me.
Let him live in your father's house.
I know it's a lot to ask, but this is
a difficult transition for them.
And you, Frida...
You bring life and warmth to any place.
Anyway, Trotsky is a very great man
in enormous danger,
and we have the opportunity to help him.
Yes, all right.
Such commotion! I don't understand.
Such a commotion for a philosopher.
A very great man, Papa. A true revolutionary.
It's an important service we're doing.
If you admire him, I would advise him
not to get involved in politics.
Politics are ruinous.
Good advice, Papa. I'm sure he'll agree.
I regret it was not possible for me
to meet you at your boat.
Natalia and I, we are deeply indebted to you
for your generosity in these difficult times.
Your charming wife, she's made
the last leg of our trip such a delight.
We are profoundly honoured to have
you and your wife in our home.
Diego, they're starving. Let's feed them.
Thank you.
No! It's true! It's true!
I could not believe it!
These people are idiots!
They scream about Hitler's aggression
and then sing Stalin's praises.
- Aren't they the same creature?
- Yes.
But not exactly. Of course,
they are both monsters.
But Hitler, at least, is a madman with a vision.
- He's insane!
- Of course, he's insane.
But he has the ability
to mobilise the people's minds,
whereas Stalin, he is so dull!
There is the brutality,
but when you get right down to it,
Stalin is nothing but a bureaucrat,
and that is what is smothering our revolution.
They are the same, but only in that the
insanity of power has overruled them.
And between them,
they will consume the continent.
- Madness!
- Yes. But a challenge.
Look at us. Mexican, Russian, French,
in this wonderful new planet, Rivera!
I tell you this, my friends,
in the experience of my lifetime,
the failure and the pain have
certainly outstripped the triumphs.
But this has not only not destroyed my faith,
my faith in reason, in truth, in human solidarity,
but on the contrary,
it has made it indestructible.
I see the hope of the world in you,
and from my heart, I thank you.
- Nasdarovje! - Nasdarovje! - Salud!
Imagine living your life like that,
with a price on your head,
and staying so calm!
Yes.
Good night, Diego.
- Oh, stop it, André. I hate flattery.
- I don't care. It is wonderful, wonderful work.
- You've seen all this, I take it.
- Of course, I tell her all the time.
Julien Levy took a couple of her paintings
in New York and sold both of them,
and she sold another four
to that actor, the gangster.
- Edward G. Robinson.
- Yeah. For $200 apiece.
He was robbed. We haven't
been able to fool anyone else.
My little paintings can't mean
anything to anyone but me.
Stop! Get down!
They're put down by the door! Get back!
- Get back!
- Let's get inside.
- Inside, quickly!
- There is no time.
- Cover him! Hurry!
- Inside, everybody inside!
Frida! Frida, what are you doing?
I give you five seconds to get out of here.
One, two...
It's all right, it's all right.
Sorry about that. It's my mother's sisters.
What do you mean?
They were leaving icons
and sprinkling Holy Water.
They think this house is cursed
and that you are the Antichrist.
I want you to think about it seriously.
You could be part of the
Mexican exhibition in Paris.
What I really want is a show in my own country.
Which they will give you, once you
become famous somewhere else.
Your paintings should be seen.
- So, who is coming up with me?
- It's harder than you think.
Everything is harder than we think.
- I'll go.
- Are you sure?
If an old man can do it, why not a cripple?
No, no, no, no! It's okay. I don't think
assassins are waiting at the top.
I'll race you.
Frida...
How were you hurt?
I couldn't even tell you any more.
I've been cut into, rebroken,
reset so many times,
I'm like a jigsaw puzzle.
And all the operations have done more
damage than the accident for all I know.
Everything hurts.
But the leg, the leg is the worst.
But I'm all right.
At the end of the day, we can endure
much more than we think we can.
That's what I loved about your paintings.
That they carry that message.
You said that nobody would care
about them, but I think you're wrong.
Because your paintings express
what everyone feels.
That they are alone in pain.
Maybe.
Leon, tell me about your children.
My children...
We knew the girls had been murdered,
and one of the boys.
We thought the other was
still alive in the prison,
but that letter came.
He was executed, too. They are all gone.
I have condemned my family
as I am condemned.
- You mustn't say that.
- But it's true.
Stalin has more power than any czar.
I am alone with few friends and no resources
against the world's biggest killing machine.
So, what can I do but keep on working?
Really, you cannot imagine
what a joy it is for me to be here,
to see all this.
It's the first time I've felt
like a real person in years.
In his book, 'State and Revolution',
Lenin purged from the genuine
teaching of Karl Marx
all the spurious ingredients
introduced by the social democracy.
John, I am picking it up
from "social democracy".
Frida!
This is the book I mentioned.
Tell me what you think.
Thank you.
I'll be back in an hour.
No, no, no. It is better this way.
We will stop disrupting your lives.
We're not going far, just around the corner.
I wish you would reconsider,
if only for security.
We will be more than safe.
- Trust me.
- Do svidaniya.
Many thanks, my friend.
We'll see you soon.
Natalia.
It makes no sense.
It was for his own well-being.
He's not thinking of his well-being.
He's thinking of hers.
What are you talking about?
I'm talking about somebody willing
to sacrifice a little of their own pleasure,
rather than go on hurting
the woman who loves him.
- Have you lost your mind?
- Go to hell, Diego!
You know what the consequences
of this could be?
- He's not scared. Why should you be?
- Oh, dear God! Frida, of all people, why?!
Because we wanted to.
You've broken my heart, Frida.
It hurts, doesn't it? But why?
It was just a fuck, like a handshake.
No, I told you who I was when you married me.
Yes, you did, and I married you anyway.
And you promised to be loyal.
You've been my comrade, my fellow artist,
my best friend.
- But you've never been my husband.
- Fridoucha...
Dear Diego, how are you, panzón?
Why didn't you tell me
Paris was such a nightmare?
The French are the most
pretentious bores in the world.
I'd rather sit on the floor of
a market in Toluca selling tortilla
than have to listen to the prattling
of the artistic bitches of Paris.
There really hasn't been as much interest
in the exhibition as Breton promised.
Mexican artists are nothing
but an exotic curiosity here.
All in all, it's been lonely,
and I crave news from home.
Diego, this letter is a lie.
Paris has been good to me,
but without you it means nothing.
All the rage of our 12 years
together passes through me,
and I'm left knowing that I love you
more than my own skin.
And, though you may not love me as much,
you do love me a little, don't you?
If this is not true, I'll always
be hopeful that it could be.
I adore you. Frida.
There are rumours going around
that I wanted Trotsky killed.
We fought lately, it's true, but...
They may try to arrest me again.
- Talk to the President.
- No.
No, I'm going to California.
- California?
- Yes.
And, Frida...
I want us to divorce.
For whom? That American actress?
- Jesus, Diego!
- No, Frida, no.
It will be better this way.
We have both done better as friends.
- I haven't.
- You have!
You're doing very well on your own.
- I'm proud of you. You don't need me.
- Enough! If you wanna go, just go.
[La Llorona by Chavela Vargas]
♪ Todos me dicen el negro, llorona ♪
[Everybody calls me the dark one, weeper]
♪ Negro pero cariñoso ♪
[Dark but loving]
♪ Todos me dicen el negro, llorona ♪
[Everybody calls me the dark one, weeper]
♪ Negro pero cariñoso ♪
[Dark but loving]
♪ Yo soy como el chile verde, llorona ♪
[I am like the green pepper, weeper]
♪ Picante pero sabroso ♪
[Spicy but tasty]
♪ Yo soy como el chile verde, llorona ♪
[I am like the green pepper, weeper]
♪ Picante pero sabroso ♪
[Spicy but tasty]
♪ Ay de mi, Llorona Llorona ♪
[Alas, weeper, weeper]
♪ Llorona, llévame al rio ♪
[Weeper, take me to the river]
♪ Tápame con tu rebozo, Llorona ♪
[Cover me with your shawl, weeper]
♪ Porque me muero de frio ♪
[Because I'm freezing to death]
♪ Si porque te quiero quieres, Llorona ♪
If because I love you, weeper]
♪ ¿Quieres que te quiera más? ♪
[You want me to love you more?]
♪ Si ya te he dado la vida, Llorona ♪
[If I have already given you life, weeper]
♪ ¿Que mas quieres? Quieres mas? ♪♪
[What else do you want? You want more?]
Listen to me, I don't particularly
care for Mr. Trotsky,
but we can't go around having political refugees
murdered in our country now, can we?
Once more, where is your husband?
I don't have a husband.
Frida?
Oh, my God!
Cristi!
I'm so sorry.
It was not your fault. It was mine.
I should never have put you in a room with him.
What did you do to get me out of here?
Diego. He went crazy when he heard.
He called President Cárdenas immediately.
Diego!
Not much more.
How long has your foot been like this?
Who knows? Let's take one thing at a time.
Just patch me up, so I can paint, please.
These are gangrened.
They'll have to come off.
You're lucky it hasn't spread to your leg.
You've lost weight.
You've lost your toes.
Is that why you're here?
To offer your condolences?
I'm here to see how you are.
How do you feel?
Tired of answering that question.
Otherwise, like shit.
How are you?
I'm...
I'm here to ask you to marry me.
- I don't need rescuing, Diego.
- I do.
I've lost the toes of one foot,
my back is useless,
I have an infection of the kidneys,
I smoke, I drink, I curse,
I can't have children.
I have no money and a stack of
hospital bills. Should I keep going?
It's practically a letter of recommendation.
Frida.
Frida.
I miss us.
They say you should never believe
a limping dog or the tears of a woman.
They're wrong.
[Viva la Vida by Trio/Marimberos]
♪ Viva la vida ♪
[Long live the life]
♪ Que ayer, que ayer ♪
[That yesterday, that yesterday]
♪ Se fue ♪
[Left us]
♪ Vivan las sombras ♪
[Long live the shadows]
♪ De mis voces ♪
[Of my voices]
♪ Llorando lejos ♪
[Crying from afar]
♪ Vivan los sueños ♪
[Long live the dreams]
♪ Que nunca despertaron ♪
[That never awoke]
♪ Mi amor ♪
[My love]
♪ Felicidad ♪
[Happiness]
♪ ¿Qué importa ya? ♪
[What does it matter now?]
♪ Si canto a la luz de tu sombra ♪♪
[If I sing in the light of your shadow]
Cristina!
"Feet, what do I need you for,
if I have wings to fly?"
I want you to burn this Judas of a body.
I don't want to be buried.
I've spent enough time lying down.
Burn it.
Frida.
I don't think I'm Frida.
I think all the Frida in me has disappeared.
Look at what's left.
Why do you stay?
You stupid girl.
Are you crazy? I forbid it.
Stop it, Diego. You can't force me to stay.
- Oh, yes, I can.
- Give it to me!
No, Frida, no. We've been
through all this before.
I'm going, damn it! Give me my fucking leg!
- Doctor, please help me.
- What's going on here?
I told her she had to stay in bed.
She demanded we call you.
- I'm going to my exhibition.
- Frida!
I've waited for a show in my own country
my whole life. I'm not going to miss it.
If the bronchitis gets worse,
it will turn into pneumonia.
Frida, under no circumstances,
are you to leave this bed.
I'll bring you back all the gossip, I promise.
Cristina!
There was this skinny kid with
these eyebrows shouting up at me...
"Diego, I want to show you my paintings!"
But of course, she made me
come down to her.
I did, and I've never stopped looking.
But I want to speak about Frida
not as her husband,
but as an artist, an admirer.
Her work is acid and tender.
Hard as steel and fine as a butterfly's wing.
Lovable as a smile,
cruel as the bitterness of life.
I don't believe...
that ever before has a woman
put such agonised poetry on canvas.
Shut up, panzón! Who died?
Where is the music?
See, Doctor? I followed your orders.
I didn't leave my bed.
Frida.
Doctor, if you let me have this tequila,
I promise not to drink at my funeral.
- It's a deal.
- To Frida!
To Frida!
[La Llorona by Lila Downs]
♪ Salías del templo un día, llorona ♪
[Leaving the church one day, weeper]
♪ Cuando al pasar yo te vi ♪
[As I was passing by I saw you]
♪ Salías del templo un día, llorona ♪
[Leaving the church one day, weeper]
♪ Cuando al pasar yo te vi ♪
[As I was passing by I saw you]
♪ Hermoso huipil llevabas, llorona ♪
[A beautiful huipil you were wearing, weeper]
♪ Que la Virgen te creí ♪
[That I mistook you for Virgin Mary]
♪ Hermoso huipil llevabas, llorona ♪
[A beautiful huipil you were wearing, weeper]
♪ Que la Virgen te creí ♪♪
[That I mistook you for Virgin Mary]
- Are you all right?
- Lie down with me.
25 years together, mi Dieguito.
Frida!
Happy silver!
It's not for two more weeks.
17 days.
[Burn It Blue by Caetano Veloso & Lila Dawn]
♪ Burn this house ♪
♪ Burn it blue ♪
♪ Heart running on empty ♪
♪ So lost without you ♪
♪ But the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ Woman so weary ♪
♪ Spread your broken wings ♪
♪ Fly free as the swallow sings ♪
♪ Come to the fireworks ♪
♪ See the dark lady smile ♪
♪ She burns ♪
♪ And the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ Burn this night ♪
♪ Black and blue ♪
♪ So cold in the morning ♪
♪ So cold without you ♪
♪ And the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ Y la noche que se encendia ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ Y la cama que se eleva ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ A volar ♪
♪ And of the dark days ♪
♪ Painted in dark grey hues ♪
♪ They fade with the dream of you ♪
♪ Wrapped in red velvet ♪
♪ Dancing the night away ♪
♪ I burn ♪
♪ Midnight blue ♪
♪ Spread those wings ♪
♪ Fly free with the swallows ♪
♪ Fly οne with the wind ♪
♪ Y ella es flama que se eleva ♪
♪ Y es un pájaro a volar ♪
♪ Y es un pájaro a volar ♪
♪ En la noche que se incendia ♪
♪ El infierno es este cielo ♪
♪ And the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ Y ella es flama que se eleva ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ Y es un pájaro a volar ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ Just a swallow in the sky ♪
♪ En la noche que se incendia ♪
♪ Painting heaven and hell much brighter ♪
♪ Estrella de oscuridad ♪
♪ Burn this house ♪
♪ Burn it blue ♪
♪ Heart running on empty ♪
♪ So lost without you ♪♪
♪ Y ella es flama que se eleva ♪
[And she's a rising flame]
♪ Y es un pjaro a volar ♪
[And she's a bird in flight]
♪ En la noche que se incendia ♪
[In the burning of the night]
♪ El infierno es este cielo ♪♪
[Hell is this heaven]
Careful, guys. This corpse is still breathing.
Try to get me there in one piece.
- Hello, Professor.
- Hello, Frida.
Diego Rivera is back in the auditorium.
With a naked woman.
Why is this whore still here?
Tell me.
Tell me, mi amor.
Are you planning to have her after lunch
or have you fucked her already?
Lupe, please, don't start!
You don't think I don't know what's going on?
You must think I'm an idiot!
- I can't work like this.
- Yes, you can.
Your food and your slut.
That's all you need to paint your pinche murals.
- Get out!
- And don't come home!
Don't come home and give me
one of your speeches
about the artist, and the people,
and your fucking revolution!
You only care about yourself,
you piece of shit!
So much for lunch.
Although, I could eat you, perhaps.
I have eaten female flesh before.
Yeah!
Wrapped up in tortillas.
Tastes like the tenderest young pig.
Watch out, Diego! Lupe's coming back!
Fucking punks!
Come on, you little anarchists!
Come and light another
of your firecrackers if you dare!
Just keeping you honest, panzón.
Panzón?
Do I look fat to you?
Frida, we found the most beautiful fabric
for my wedding dress today.
- Fantastic.
- Costs a fortune.
- Mama?
- Yes?
- Are these ripe?
- They should be. Let me see.
Yes, they are fine.
These need a day or two.
Maybe you'll get married, too, one day.
- One can only hope.
- Lunch is almost ready.
Go get the artist.
I love this one. It's beautiful.
I like it, too.
They're busy with the wedding.
Cristina is so excited about her dress.
Good. Everyone should be excited
when they get married.
I suppose. If that's what you want.
What do you want?
I don't know. I just don't think
that marriage is for everyone.
You need a good reason to do it.
Just like with anything else.
What do you think matters
most for a good marriage?
A short memory.
- Why did you get married, Papa?
- I can't remember.
So I could have you.
- Concentrate, everybody.
- Wait, where is Frida?
Adriana, go tell your sister to hurry up.
I always wanted a son.
Matilde, everyone, eyes to the camera, and...
Come on, or we'll miss our bus.
- Frida!
- How much is the calaca?
Frida, come on!
- The bus!
- We'll take the next one.
No, no, no! Come, come, come!
Watch out!
Anyway, I just don't think
he's completely apolitical. That's all.
But that's because you read it
after you read Marx.
- You always read things in the wrong order.
- That's ridiculous!
Why should it matter
what order you read it in?
Because if you have already read Marx,
then, of course, Hegel is gonna seem political.
But the truth is that the idea of history
as a dialectic, it just predicts Marx.
- Is that gold? Real gold?
- Which is not the same as affirming this specifically.
For the ceiling of the opera house.
The spinal column was broken,
as were the collarbone and two ribs.
Pelvis is broken in three places.
A metal rod entered the right side of
the body and came out the vagina.
The right leg has 11 fractures.
And the foot was crushed.
Will she ever walk again?
Let's make sure she lives first.
- Is Alex alive?
- Frida!
- Is he all right?
- He was hurt, but not terribly.
He was here yesterday
when you were not awake.
And Mama?
It was too much, Fridoucha.
They're at home.
How long have I been here?
Three weeks.
Almost there.
Gently, now.
- But there is nothing left for spend.
- I will sell some of my equipment.
- Another operation that probably won't work!
- No, listen!
- Maybe this time it will work.
- And then, how will you make money?
I'll paint portraits again.
Admit it, Guillermo. She'll never walk again.
Go on in, Alex. She's waiting for you.
Hello, ugly!
- They're beautiful.
- How do you feel?
Like I've been hit by a bus.
Come on, silly. Come, come.
Come and sit with me.
Look... It's my only good angle
at the moment.
No, it's not.
I like you this way.
You're easier to keep up with.
Spengler, because you love him.
Schopenhauer, because it's good for you.
Oh, Alex! You know I adore you.
I've missed you so much.
I told the doctor the handrail
had taken my virginity.
I'm sure he believed you.
You know, when I get out of this cast,
I'm going to show you
a couple of things I still remember.
Okay.
What?
My aunt and uncle are leaving for Europe.
And they've invited me to come along.
But that's wonderful.
When would you leave?
Soon.
Next week.
How long will you be going?
We're going for two months.
Afterwards, I might stay on at the Sorbonne.
I will be staying on.
Did I tell you that I'm going to walk again?
- Yes.
- Do you believe it?
Of course I do.
You'd better!
Because you're going to miss it.
I want you to leave
before I finish this butterfly.
How are you feeling?
How am I feeling?
I can't even remember
what it felt like before the pain.
- Isn't that horrible?
- Dr. Farill is coming on Monday.
He's bringing a back specialist,
Dr Cervantes.
I feel like some rich girl
with a new suitor every week.
But all my suitors have turned into doctors.
I'm not a rich girl, Papa.
How come you never ask me
about my plans any more?
You used to always say...
"Tell me your plans, Frida!"
What are your plans, Frida?
Right now, I'm a burden.
But I hope to be a self-sufficient cripple
one day.
After that, I don't know.
You are not a burden.
My love.
See, here.
We have something for you.
Matilde! Come.
We noticed that there was no more
room left on your cast, so...
- Now you look like a gringa movie star.
- Let me see.
- These things are expensive.
- It's too much money.
Mama, Papa, I have a surprise!
Careful, now!
Don't worry! Don't worry! It's all right.
I need the ochre.
- Is it ready?
- Almost.
- No, now. I need it now.
- Okay.
Señor Rivera!
- Diego!
- Who are you? What do you want?
I have something important
to discuss with you.
- I'm working.
- I'll wait.
I don't have time to chat with schoolgirls.
I'm not a schoolgirl, panzón.
Okay, come on up here.
No, you come down.
What?
Look, I didn't come here for fun or to flirt.
I've done some paintings, which
I want you to look over professionally.
And I need an absolutely
straightforward opinion of my work.
You were that girl in the auditorium.
Yes, I was. But that has nothing to do with now.
- I just want your serious opinion.
- What do you care about my opinion?
If you're a real painter, you paint,
because you can't live without painting.
You paint or you die, okay?
I have to work to earn a living,
so I don't have time to fool around
just for vanity.
If I'm not good enough, I have to do
something else to help my parents.
Leave the best one.
Go home and paint another one.
If this one's any good, I'll come
and look at that one on my day off.
Orozco is a true artist. He's tremendous.
And Siqueiros could be great, if he'd pull
his head out of his own ass and look around.
Comrade Rivera. What a nice surprise.
What if I told you that easel
painting like yours is finished?
That it's headed for the trash like
other elitist, bourgeois pastimes?
I'd say, "Cut the propaganda."
This is very good work.
- You have real talent.
- Oh, come on!
I'm not looking for your compliments.
- I want a serious critique.
- But I'm being sincere.
These are very original paintings.
- None of the usual tricks.
- But that's not specific!
You have to trust a true compliment
as much as a critique.
Yeah, well, some people have
told me not to trust what you say.
They say if a girl asks your opinion
and she's not a complete fright,
you'll gush all over her.
I need you to tell me one thing honestly.
Do you actualy believe that
I should continue to paint?
Yes.
Yes.
You'll like Tina.
She's a brilliant photographer.
One of the few with real taste.
You know Alvarez Bravo?
I know his work. It's good.
I'll introduce you to him.
He'll want to photograph you.
- Without clothes, of course.
- Of course.
Another thing about these radicals.
They're a little dangerous,
but they definitely throw the best parties.
- Ah, at last! ll mostro!
- Tina!
This is Frida Kahlo.
She's a wonderful painter.
- She wants be a wonderful painter.
- Ah, don't be shy.
Nobody really thinks their own stuff
is good except Diego.
He's the only one who's sure.
Go find Siqueiros.
He's been badmouthing you again.
You, come with me.
Everyone, I have someone for you
to meet. This is Frida Kahlo.
She came with Diego. Another pretty girl.
She's quite a talent, no?
Julio Mella, the Cuban.
Tina took the last photo of him.
She was with him on the street
when they gunned him down.
Incredible!
- They're like clay in his hands.
- It must be that body.
No. It's the way he looks at you.
He finds beauty in all your
imperfections. It's irresistible.
You'd never think it to look at him,
but he's had half the women here.
I'm sorry, did you come with him?
Oh, we're just friends. I'm Frida Kahlo.
- I'm a painter.
- A painter. No wonder.
I'm Lupe Marín. I'm his wife.
I was his wife.
Good luck to you.
Badmouth him all you want, Diego.
While we've been talking about socialism
over drinks at parties for 10 years,
Stalin is making it work. He's achieving it.
Achieving what? His only big idea so far
is to throw out all the real thinkers in the land.
- He just threw you out.
- No, not just me.
No, not just you. Mr Trotsky.
A man who plays the martyr.
When in truth, he was rejected
by his whole country. Good riddance.
No. He had to run for his life.
Stalin would have had him shot.
That's his version of socialism.
Kill anyone who disagrees with you.
Some people have to get shot
in a revolution.
Well, I prefer evolution.
Educate the poor.
Mobilise the workers.
Rise like a small tide.
You! You'll have your revolution,
and kill half the poor to save them.
Diego, this from a communist
who is getting rich
painting for the government
and with a patron.
I can't help it if he rich have good taste.
The rich don't have good taste.
They pay someone
to have good taste for them.
They don't hire you, because you're good.
They hire you, because
you assuage their sense of guilt.
They use you, Diego,
and you are too vain to see it.
No, Diego! No!
Basta!
Whoever takes the biggest swig,
can dance with me.
Bravo!
I'd rather have an intelligent enemy
than a stupid friend.
Shall we?
[Alcoba Azul by Lila Downs]
♪ La noche irá sin prisa de nostalgia ♪
[The night will go on without nostalgia's haste]
♪ Habrá de ser un tango nuestra herida ♪
[Our wound will become a tango]
♪ Un acordeón sangriento nuestas almas ♪
[A bloody accordion our souls]
♪ Seremos esta noche todo el día ♪
[We will be this night all day long]
♪ Vuelve a mí ♪
[Come back to me]
♪ Áma me sin luz ♪
[Love me in the dark]
♪ En nuestra alcoba azul ♪
[In our blue bedroom]
♪ Donde no hubo sol para nosotros ♪
[Where there was no sun for us]
♪ Ciégame ♪
[Blind me]
♪ Mata mi corazón ♪
[Kill my heart]
♪ En nuestra alcoba azul ♪
[In our blue bedroom]
♪ Mi Amor ♪♪
[My love]
- And more women!
- I'll make sure that happens, okay?
Miss Kahlo.
You may have to hold me up.
That Torres is a good man,
but he's got to be much more careful.
What is this? Your studio?
Well, the benefits of being party leader.
You can arrange for the drinking
to be done close to home.
And now that you are officially a comrade,
I believe, I can let you see it, if you like.
Hey, listen... If you think
I'm going to sleep with you,
just because you've taken me
under your wing, you're wrong.
Me?
I was painting murals and womanising
in peace when you came along.
Anyway, sex is like pissing.
People take it much too seriously.
In Russia? Oh, my God! In Russia,
everyone was fucking like rabbits.
- Well, this isn't Russia.
- No. Thank Christ.
I have a proposal.
We will not sleep together.
We will solemnly swear,
right here, right now...
- that we will be friends only.
- Fine.
Comrades, colleagues and friends for ever.
Did you arrange for that?
Cost me a fortune.
I have a scar.
Let me see it.
You're perfect.
Perfect.
I always wanted a man
with melones bigger than mine!
- You know what I've always loved?
- What?
A girl with cojones.
These are good, Frida. I love them.
You were probably painting
better when you were 12.
That's nonsense.
I could never paint like this.
I couldn't. I'm serious.
I paint what I see.
The world outside.
You...
You paint through here.
It's wonderful.
I can see why you're so successful
with women.
We'll have to get married, you know?
What?
The thing is...
I think it's quite possible
that we were born for each other.
- So, we should marry.
- But you don't believe in marriage.
Of course I do.
I've had two wives already.
Exactly. You can't be true
to only one woman.
True, yes.
Faithful, no.
Unfortunately, I'm physiologically
incapable of fidelity.
Oh, really?
Yes, a doctor acquaintance
of mine confirmed this.
What a convenient diagnosis.
Is fidelity that important to you?
Loyalty is important to me.
- Can you be loyal?
- To you?
- Always.
- Good.
Because I love you, panzón.
Fridoucha!
I accept!
What a beautiful bride you are!
- Don't touch him!
- Oh, you think I'm going to hit him?
But he is divorced twice.
He's had God knows how many children.
And he's an atheist, Guillermo.
Perhaps you have forgotten this,
and forgive me for reminding you,
but I am a German Jew,
and you married me, remember?
Yes. He's also a communist.
A communist who is generous enough
to pay off our mortgage.
It's like the marriage
of an elephant and a dove.
Your toe?
It's been a long time.
- I don't want to talk.
- I told you I wanted you to come.
- I said I don't want to talk.
- Please!
Please!
Cristina!
Please!
- I give them six months.
- Six?
I give them two.
I don't believe in marriage.
No, I really don't!
Let me be clear about that.
I think, at worst, it's a hostile political act,
a way for small-minded men to keep
women in the house and out of the way,
wrapped up in the guise of tradition
and conservative religious nonsense.
At best, it's a happy delusion.
These two people who truly love each other
and have no idea how truly miserable
they're about to make each other.
But, but... When two people know that,
and they decide, with eyes wide open,
to face each other and get married anyway,
then I don't think
it's conservative or delusional.
I think it's radical and courageous
and very romantic.
To Diego and Frida!
Diego and Frida!
♪ Borrachita me voy ♪
[Girl, I'm leaving]
♪ Para olvidarte ♪
[To forget you]
♪ La quiero mucho ♪
[I love her so much]
♪ También me quiere ♪
[She loves me too]
♪ Borrachita me voy ♪
[Girl, I'm leaving]
♪ Hasta la capital ♪
[To the capital]
♪ Pa' servirle al patrón ♪
[To serve the boss]
♪ Que me mandó llamar ♪
[Who called me]
♪ Anteayer ♪
[The day before yesterday]
[La Borrachita by Tata Nacho]
You're crazy! You know that? You're crazy!
Son of a bitch!
- You left these legs.
- Oh, Lupe!
- You left these legs, Diego.
- Lupe!
You give up these beauties
for these matchsticks?
These peg-legs? Feel! Mira!
Viva la revolución!
My mother was wrong about you, you know?
She said you were an elephant,
but you're not.
Elephants are strong and courageous
and they defend their mates.
You're a toad. You even look like a toad.
And you look like a dog. Dove, dove!
Did I say "dog"? I meant "dove".
You're my little paloma.
What will people say about such a pair?
They'll have never seen a better match.
- Thank you.
- For what?
For making a fat old crazy
communist a happy man.
Sit! Eat!
Mi amor!
Good, eh?
What a wonderful mole!
Lupe's special recipe.
Well, you've mastered it.
I can't cook to save my life.
She brought it down for us
while you were sleeping.
- Brought it down?
- Mmm.
She's in the apartment upstairs with my kids.
I let her have it till she finds a place in town.
I'm not just passing through, you know?
I'm here to stay!
- Is that what you came to tell me?
- I'm here to stay.
So, stay out of my damn kitchen!
You like mole?
- So-so.
- Well, he lives for it.
So, if you're here to stay,
you'd better learn to make it.
I was so angry. He didn't come home
for three days. Pass me the cilantro.
So, I took two of his damned Aztec
idols that he adores, you know...
and I smashed the pieces of clay
in the boiling pot of beef stock
and told him it was sopa azteca.
- Medea! Did he eat it?
- He did.
- Did he like it?
- He loved it.
Of course, until he found out.
Then he got sick, he got furious!
It didn't make me feel any better.
And it definitely didn't stop him from cheating.
I want to help.
Brute!
Get out! Come on!
Marie! Come on, let's go.
Time for a nap.
The other night, I was very drunk.
I know. It's all right.
Diego has never belonged to anybody.
He belongs only to himself.
And that, of course,
is what makes him so desirable.
He is the best of friends
and the worst of husbands.
Diego will never be anyone's husband.
Not really.
We'll see.
You'll know it's over when he gets
the next commission out of town.
He'll say he 'll send for you,
then he never does.
- Señora Rivera!
- Yes? - Yes?
What do you think?
- The tits lack... gravity.
- Oh, come on!
Eat your pozole while it's still hot.
It's not like you to be late for lunch, Diego.
I was at the Ministry explaining
why a history of the Mexican people
is an appropriate subject
for the Mexican National palace.
Again?
When I work, they scream about my politics.
When I don't work,
they scream about the delays.
It's a farce.
Hijo de puta!
- That model, huh?
- Yes.
It was just a fuck, that's all.
I've given more affection in a handshake.
Well, that makes me feel so much better.
- Was she good, at least?
- Not very.
Too bad. She had such a great ass.
When you get home, take a good bath.
We're going out tonight.
♪ Y ahora sí maldita bruja ♪
[And now wicked witch]
♪ Ya te chupastes a mi hijo ♪
[You've already sucked on my son]
♪ Y ahora sí maldita bruja ♪
[And now wicked witch]
♪ Y ahora le vas a chupar ♪
[And now you're about to suck]
♪ Y a tu marido el ombligo ♪
[On your husband's navel]
♪ Y ahora le vas a chupar ♪
[And now you're about to suck]
♪ Me agarra la bruja ♪
[The witch grabs me]
♪ Me lleva a su casa ♪
[She takes me to her quarters]
♪ Me vuelve maceta ♪
[She turns me into a flowerpot]
♪ Y una calabasa ♪
[And a pumpkin]
♪ Me agarra la bruja ♪
[The witch grabs me]
♪ Me lleve al cerrito ♪
[She takes me to the hills]
♪ Me sienta en sus piernas ♪
[She sits me on her lap]
♪ Me da de besitos ♪
[She smothers me with kisses]
♪ Ay dígame, ay dígame, ay dígame, usted ♪
[Oh, tell me; oh, tell me; oh, tell me, please
♪ ¿Cuantas criaturitas se ha chupado usted? ♪
[How many children have you sucked dry?]
♪ Ninguna, ninguna, ninguna ¿no ve? ♪
[None, none, none, can't you see?]
♪ Que ando en pretensiones de chuparme a usted! ♪♪
[It's you who I'm trying to suck the life out of!]
[La Bruja traditional song]
More tequila!
Rivera! Hey!
Yeah, you! You know what I think
of you with your stinking girls?
Why don't you get the fuck out of here, huh?
This is a bar for workers,
not for government whores!
I tell you that kid was one of Siqueiros's boys.
Siqueiros is a hero to these fucks,
but what he's actually done, nothing!
I put socialism on the government walls.
I've got the fascists calling me the most
dangerous subversive in the country,
and I'm the traitor to the Party!
- Soon, we'll have no one left to drink with.
- It's not funny.
I'm not kidding.They'll kick you
out of the Party for the palace mural.
They won't have to. I quit.
So, you'll quit and keep on working.
That's all that matters to you anyway.
I've been offered a show in New York.
A solo exhibition at the new Modern Museum.
It'd be a wonderful entrée.
I could get commissions out of it.
I thought you'd be excited.
They don't care that you're a communist pig?
They can't afford to.
All the greatest painters are communist pigs.
That's wonderful news. When do you leave?
As soon as you decide to come with me.
We'll take Gringolandia by storm!
Dear Cristi, the invasion
of Gringolandia has begun.
They are never gonna know what hit them.
New York has Diego on fire.
What's your impression of New York,
Mr. Rivera?
Magnificent.
There is no reason why any artist
born in our two continents
should go to Europe for inspiration.
It is all here, the might, the power,
the energy, the sadness,
the glory and youthfulness
of our American lands.
I see the majesty that Diego sees.
But all that American comfort is a myth.
While the rich drink their cocktailitos,
thousands are starving.
Diego is working almost constantly
to prepare for his show.
So, I have to find ways to entertain myself.
Breaking all records,
over 50,000 people have lined up
outside New York's new
Museum of Modern Art
to see the paintings of Mexico's
greatest artist, Diego Rivera,
the most talked-about man
this side of the Rio Grande.
Señor Diego Rivera!
The gringos are friendly enough,
but the most important thing in
Gringolandia is to have ambition.
To succeed in becoming somebody.
And the somebodies are
the only ones that interest them.
I despise this pretension.
La gran caca interests me not at all.
Of course, Diego loves it.
He's like a big Mexican piñata
with enough candy for everyone.
Everything about this country inspires him.
Two loose eggs, hot cinnamon bun,
two black coffees. Anything else?
- It's fine.
- Thank you.
Are you guys ready?
Well, I never thought I'd hear myself say this,
but you were better than your husband.
You weren't upset about that, were you?
I mean, he said you wouldn't be.
Oh, he did, did he?
Well, you weren't the first
and you won't be the last.
Why do you put up with it?
Look, Diego's how he is,
and that's how I love him.
I cannot love him for what he's not.
Anyway, my sweet Gracie,
I get along just fine.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
- It's a lot of wall.
- It always is.
Gentlemen, please, please!
I have to get back to work. I'm sorry.
Are you a painter, too, Mrs. Rivera?
No. Just killing time.
She's much better than me. You'll see.
What did the doctor say?
He might be able to improve the pain,
but the bones would have to be reset.
Blah, blah, blah; blah, blah, blah.
The usual speech. I know it by heart.
I'm pregnant.
Oh!
Can your body take it?
If it can take you, it can take a little Dieguito.
No, no, Frida.
He's not very optimistic.
This is not...
I can't bear to think of you in pain.
I'm used to pain.
This is not...
I'm not a good example of...
It's not a good time.
There's the Rockefeller commission.
Detroit. Chicago.
All that travelling. No, it's too much.
You really want this baby, Frida?
- I do.
- All right.
- All right.
- All right, let's try and have this baby.
Shh, shh! Listen, listen!
He's reciting the Communist Manifesto.
- She's lost a lot of blood.
- I want to see her.
She needs to sleep. You should
go home and try get some rest.
- Frida!
- You should be in bed, Mrs. Rivera.
- The baby came out in pieces.
- Come with me. Let's go back to bed.
- It never formed properly.
- We can try again, but you must rest.
- He's my son.
- Mrs Rivera. Mrs Rivera.
I want to see him!
What did you do with him?
I want to see my son!
- Mr. Rivera.
- Hey, hey!
- What did you do with him?
- All right, chiquita, I'll take care of it.
- Will you?
- I promise. I promise.
- What the hell is this?
- Breakfast.
You trying to kill me?
I need fuel to work.
Listen, panzón, if you get any fatter,
it's gonna be you in the hospital next time.
I don't believe in God, but I thanked Him
every day that He kept you safe for me.
Really?
I told Him He's got a lot of explaining to do.
From now on, I'm going to get Abby Rockefeller
to bring my breakfast over from 21.
Frida?
Frida! You're here.
I left him.
And that was his parting gift?
I should have been there for you.
You're here now.
She'll throw a fit, if I let her damn plants die.
We fought so much.
Sometimes, I would regret
that I ever married her.
I would think how I hated her.
When you do enough damage to one
another, you begin to think that way.
Then she gets sick, and I tend her garden.
You'd seen my work.
- You knew my politics when you hired me.
- Yes.
I showed you the sketches.
- I discussed them with you and your father.
- Yes.
So, what the hell were you expecting
from me? A line of dancing girls?
No, but nor was I expecting
a portrait of Lenin.
Now, let's be honest. In the sketches
that you showed me originally,
it was just some anonymous worker.
He transformed himself into Lenin
of his own accord.
No, you transformed him into Lenin,
because they took shots at us in the paper.
Do you really think that my family
is influenced by newspaper hacks?
We would've defended you.
I will defend you against any attack,
because the work is thrilling, as always.
But a portrait of Vladimir Lenin
will offend many people,
in particular my father.
See, you're putting me
in an impossible position,
so I'm asking you to, please,
change this one detail.
It's against my principles.
Yes, well, you've adjusted your principles
to come to our parties and eat at our table,
so I hope you will reconsider.
You've got quite a crowd out there.
Half of them think you're the devil,
half of them think you're a hero.
Tell me honestly what you think.
If you lie down with dogs,
you should expect fleas.
No, seriously. This is really frightening me.
- Why?
- Because I'm actually wondering if he's right.
Perhaps I am being foolish.
Risking too much.
Diego, you can't lose.
Forget about artistic integrity.
You've done better ones than this
and you'll do more.
But whatever happens,
you have aroused people,
you've made them get
passionate about their ideals.
Ther's not another painter in the world
who can say that.
He could walk in here tomorrow
and tear it down.
- You'd still have won.
- Yeah, maybe.
He doesn't have the balls.
Diego.
Señor Rivera, I must ask you one last time
to reconsider your position.
I will not compromise my vision.
In that case, this is your fee,
paid in full, as agreed,
but your services are no longer required.
- It's my painting!
- On my wall.
It's the people's wall, you bastard!
- Diego, let's go home.
- Frida, we have to fight these bastards.
They tore down the wall,
but the painting is up here.
- I'll do it again and I'll use his money.
- What money?
We don't even have enough to get to Chicago.
We're not going to Chicago.
They cancelled the commission.
- It's time to go home.
- What?! My tail between my legs?
We don't belong here.
I am tired of these people
and I am tired of who you are around them.
You see that, hmm?
You want to go back to that?!
Yes, I wanna go back to that!
- I'm working.
- I can see that.
I brought you some lunch.
The doctor says you should eat more, for once.
Puta madre!
Diego!
All right, that's enough!
Diego!
Diego, stop!
Lord Cholotl, Prince of Darkness.
You're the best art critic there is.
Only you see what shit
this country has made of me.
Diego, you need help.
Frida, why do you and Diego
have separate houses?
Because we are two different people,
but our love makes us into one.
That's why we have the bridge.
So, you mean the bridge is your love?
Yeah. That's a good way to put it.
Then why is it such a small bridge?
He's not working. He's sick, he's depressed.
He says the people in this country
are like mules, they're so stupid.
And he blames me it all on me
for making him come back.
That's ridiculous.
Still, you are lucky to have him.
I feel so desperate every day.
Sometimes I even think of going back.
Well, you're not.
What about a job?
You could help me organise Diego's studio.
- Where do I start?
- Don't touch anything!
Diego!
Don't worry. He's a pussy cat.
Go downstairs and play! Now! Now!
Oh, my God!
My goddamn sister!
You're an animal!
- You're impossible!
- Frida!
Get out! Get out!
Frida!
I'm a beast, yes.
I'm an idiot, but it meant nothing, Frida, nothing!
Frida, talk to me!
There have been two big accidents
in my life, Diego.
The trolley and you.
You are by far the worst.
[Paloma Negra by Chavela Vargas]
♪ Ya me cansó de llorar y no amanece ♪
[I'm tired of crying with no ray of hope]
♪ Ya no sé si maldecirte o por ti rezar ♪
[I don't know whether to curse you or pray for you]
♪ Tengo miedo de buscarte y de encontrarte ♪
[I'm afraid to look for you and find you]
♪ Donde me aseguran mis amigos que te vas ♪
[Where my friends assure me that you're gone]
♪ Ya agarraste por tu cuenta la parranda ♪
[And you decided on your own to find a party]
♪ Paloma negra, paloma negra ¿donde, donde andarás? ♪
[Black dove, black dove, where, where are you?]
♪ Ya no juegues con mi honra parrandera ♪
[Do not play with my gallivanting honor]
♪ Si tus caricias deben ser mías, de nadie más ♪
[Since your caresses should be mine, no one else's]
♪ Y aunque te amo con locura ya no vuelvas ♪
[And even though I love you madly, don't return]
Get out!
Out! Out! Go!
♪ Paloma negra eres la reja de un penar ♪
[Black dove, you're the cage of suffering]
♪ Quiero ser libre, vivir mi vida con quien me quiera ♪
[I want to be free, to live my life with whoever I want]
♪ Dios dame fuerzas que estoy muriendo por irla a buscar ♪
[God give me strength for I'm dying to go look for him]
It's a limp up three flights upstairs.
I can't afford any furniture,
and it's cold at night.
But at least I know who's fucking who
in my own house.
Diego's not giving you any money?
I'd rather be poor.
She was my sister.
Not some model. My own sister.
- To hell with him.
- To hell with him.
Find some work.
Pay your own bills for a while.
I'll sell some paintings.
Not enough to cover your bar bill.
Don't get me wrong. I love your paintings.
I'm just not sure you should
count on them for a living.
They're tough, you know.
I mean, look at this! What the hell is this?
It was in the damn papers.
A man stabbed his wife 22 times,
and when the judge asked him
why he did it, he said...
"But it was just a few small nips."
- Who's there?
- The ghost of Frida Kahlo.
I remember her.
- How are you?
- Lonely.
Only you ghosts come to visit these days.
So, how is your Diego?
I don't know why I called him that.
He was never mine, never will be.
But he's fine. Painting, I guess.
- And you, are you also painting?
- Yes.
And I want you to pose for me.
You don't even have to leave the house.
I want to leave the house.
All right then. We'll go
somewhere different every day.
That sounds good. You've painted
everyone else in the family.
Yes. A long time ago.
Remind me what I wanted then.
You wanted to be your own person.
Frida?
She never liked you, you know.
She told me you would only bring me troubles.
There is something I must discuss with you.
A favour I need to ask of you.
You've got a lot of nerve to come here
asking me to do you favours.
It's not for me, it's Trotsky.
The Norwegians have expelled him.
No other country will take him,
and Stalin wants him dead.
I have appealed to President Cárdenas myself.
They have granted him asylum here in Mexico.
I want you to welcome him with me.
Let him live in your father's house.
I know it's a lot to ask, but this is
a difficult transition for them.
And you, Frida...
You bring life and warmth to any place.
Anyway, Trotsky is a very great man
in enormous danger,
and we have the opportunity to help him.
Yes, all right.
Such commotion! I don't understand.
Such a commotion for a philosopher.
A very great man, Papa. A true revolutionary.
It's an important service we're doing.
If you admire him, I would advise him
not to get involved in politics.
Politics are ruinous.
Good advice, Papa. I'm sure he'll agree.
I regret it was not possible for me
to meet you at your boat.
Natalia and I, we are deeply indebted to you
for your generosity in these difficult times.
Your charming wife, she's made
the last leg of our trip such a delight.
We are profoundly honoured to have
you and your wife in our home.
Diego, they're starving. Let's feed them.
Thank you.
No! It's true! It's true!
I could not believe it!
These people are idiots!
They scream about Hitler's aggression
and then sing Stalin's praises.
- Aren't they the same creature?
- Yes.
But not exactly. Of course,
they are both monsters.
But Hitler, at least, is a madman with a vision.
- He's insane!
- Of course, he's insane.
But he has the ability
to mobilise the people's minds,
whereas Stalin, he is so dull!
There is the brutality,
but when you get right down to it,
Stalin is nothing but a bureaucrat,
and that is what is smothering our revolution.
They are the same, but only in that the
insanity of power has overruled them.
And between them,
they will consume the continent.
- Madness!
- Yes. But a challenge.
Look at us. Mexican, Russian, French,
in this wonderful new planet, Rivera!
I tell you this, my friends,
in the experience of my lifetime,
the failure and the pain have
certainly outstripped the triumphs.
But this has not only not destroyed my faith,
my faith in reason, in truth, in human solidarity,
but on the contrary,
it has made it indestructible.
I see the hope of the world in you,
and from my heart, I thank you.
- Nasdarovje! - Nasdarovje! - Salud!
Imagine living your life like that,
with a price on your head,
and staying so calm!
Yes.
Good night, Diego.
- Oh, stop it, André. I hate flattery.
- I don't care. It is wonderful, wonderful work.
- You've seen all this, I take it.
- Of course, I tell her all the time.
Julien Levy took a couple of her paintings
in New York and sold both of them,
and she sold another four
to that actor, the gangster.
- Edward G. Robinson.
- Yeah. For $200 apiece.
He was robbed. We haven't
been able to fool anyone else.
My little paintings can't mean
anything to anyone but me.
Stop! Get down!
They're put down by the door! Get back!
- Get back!
- Let's get inside.
- Inside, quickly!
- There is no time.
- Cover him! Hurry!
- Inside, everybody inside!
Frida! Frida, what are you doing?
I give you five seconds to get out of here.
One, two...
It's all right, it's all right.
Sorry about that. It's my mother's sisters.
What do you mean?
They were leaving icons
and sprinkling Holy Water.
They think this house is cursed
and that you are the Antichrist.
I want you to think about it seriously.
You could be part of the
Mexican exhibition in Paris.
What I really want is a show in my own country.
Which they will give you, once you
become famous somewhere else.
Your paintings should be seen.
- So, who is coming up with me?
- It's harder than you think.
Everything is harder than we think.
- I'll go.
- Are you sure?
If an old man can do it, why not a cripple?
No, no, no, no! It's okay. I don't think
assassins are waiting at the top.
I'll race you.
Frida...
How were you hurt?
I couldn't even tell you any more.
I've been cut into, rebroken,
reset so many times,
I'm like a jigsaw puzzle.
And all the operations have done more
damage than the accident for all I know.
Everything hurts.
But the leg, the leg is the worst.
But I'm all right.
At the end of the day, we can endure
much more than we think we can.
That's what I loved about your paintings.
That they carry that message.
You said that nobody would care
about them, but I think you're wrong.
Because your paintings express
what everyone feels.
That they are alone in pain.
Maybe.
Leon, tell me about your children.
My children...
We knew the girls had been murdered,
and one of the boys.
We thought the other was
still alive in the prison,
but that letter came.
He was executed, too. They are all gone.
I have condemned my family
as I am condemned.
- You mustn't say that.
- But it's true.
Stalin has more power than any czar.
I am alone with few friends and no resources
against the world's biggest killing machine.
So, what can I do but keep on working?
Really, you cannot imagine
what a joy it is for me to be here,
to see all this.
It's the first time I've felt
like a real person in years.
In his book, 'State and Revolution',
Lenin purged from the genuine
teaching of Karl Marx
all the spurious ingredients
introduced by the social democracy.
John, I am picking it up
from "social democracy".
Frida!
This is the book I mentioned.
Tell me what you think.
Thank you.
I'll be back in an hour.
No, no, no. It is better this way.
We will stop disrupting your lives.
We're not going far, just around the corner.
I wish you would reconsider,
if only for security.
We will be more than safe.
- Trust me.
- Do svidaniya.
Many thanks, my friend.
We'll see you soon.
Natalia.
It makes no sense.
It was for his own well-being.
He's not thinking of his well-being.
He's thinking of hers.
What are you talking about?
I'm talking about somebody willing
to sacrifice a little of their own pleasure,
rather than go on hurting
the woman who loves him.
- Have you lost your mind?
- Go to hell, Diego!
You know what the consequences
of this could be?
- He's not scared. Why should you be?
- Oh, dear God! Frida, of all people, why?!
Because we wanted to.
You've broken my heart, Frida.
It hurts, doesn't it? But why?
It was just a fuck, like a handshake.
No, I told you who I was when you married me.
Yes, you did, and I married you anyway.
And you promised to be loyal.
You've been my comrade, my fellow artist,
my best friend.
- But you've never been my husband.
- Fridoucha...
Dear Diego, how are you, panzón?
Why didn't you tell me
Paris was such a nightmare?
The French are the most
pretentious bores in the world.
I'd rather sit on the floor of
a market in Toluca selling tortilla
than have to listen to the prattling
of the artistic bitches of Paris.
There really hasn't been as much interest
in the exhibition as Breton promised.
Mexican artists are nothing
but an exotic curiosity here.
All in all, it's been lonely,
and I crave news from home.
Diego, this letter is a lie.
Paris has been good to me,
but without you it means nothing.
All the rage of our 12 years
together passes through me,
and I'm left knowing that I love you
more than my own skin.
And, though you may not love me as much,
you do love me a little, don't you?
If this is not true, I'll always
be hopeful that it could be.
I adore you. Frida.
There are rumours going around
that I wanted Trotsky killed.
We fought lately, it's true, but...
They may try to arrest me again.
- Talk to the President.
- No.
No, I'm going to California.
- California?
- Yes.
And, Frida...
I want us to divorce.
For whom? That American actress?
- Jesus, Diego!
- No, Frida, no.
It will be better this way.
We have both done better as friends.
- I haven't.
- You have!
You're doing very well on your own.
- I'm proud of you. You don't need me.
- Enough! If you wanna go, just go.
[La Llorona by Chavela Vargas]
♪ Todos me dicen el negro, llorona ♪
[Everybody calls me the dark one, weeper]
♪ Negro pero cariñoso ♪
[Dark but loving]
♪ Todos me dicen el negro, llorona ♪
[Everybody calls me the dark one, weeper]
♪ Negro pero cariñoso ♪
[Dark but loving]
♪ Yo soy como el chile verde, llorona ♪
[I am like the green pepper, weeper]
♪ Picante pero sabroso ♪
[Spicy but tasty]
♪ Yo soy como el chile verde, llorona ♪
[I am like the green pepper, weeper]
♪ Picante pero sabroso ♪
[Spicy but tasty]
♪ Ay de mi, Llorona Llorona ♪
[Alas, weeper, weeper]
♪ Llorona, llévame al rio ♪
[Weeper, take me to the river]
♪ Tápame con tu rebozo, Llorona ♪
[Cover me with your shawl, weeper]
♪ Porque me muero de frio ♪
[Because I'm freezing to death]
♪ Si porque te quiero quieres, Llorona ♪
If because I love you, weeper]
♪ ¿Quieres que te quiera más? ♪
[You want me to love you more?]
♪ Si ya te he dado la vida, Llorona ♪
[If I have already given you life, weeper]
♪ ¿Que mas quieres? Quieres mas? ♪♪
[What else do you want? You want more?]
Listen to me, I don't particularly
care for Mr. Trotsky,
but we can't go around having political refugees
murdered in our country now, can we?
Once more, where is your husband?
I don't have a husband.
Frida?
Oh, my God!
Cristi!
I'm so sorry.
It was not your fault. It was mine.
I should never have put you in a room with him.
What did you do to get me out of here?
Diego. He went crazy when he heard.
He called President Cárdenas immediately.
Diego!
Not much more.
How long has your foot been like this?
Who knows? Let's take one thing at a time.
Just patch me up, so I can paint, please.
These are gangrened.
They'll have to come off.
You're lucky it hasn't spread to your leg.
You've lost weight.
You've lost your toes.
Is that why you're here?
To offer your condolences?
I'm here to see how you are.
How do you feel?
Tired of answering that question.
Otherwise, like shit.
How are you?
I'm...
I'm here to ask you to marry me.
- I don't need rescuing, Diego.
- I do.
I've lost the toes of one foot,
my back is useless,
I have an infection of the kidneys,
I smoke, I drink, I curse,
I can't have children.
I have no money and a stack of
hospital bills. Should I keep going?
It's practically a letter of recommendation.
Frida.
Frida.
I miss us.
They say you should never believe
a limping dog or the tears of a woman.
They're wrong.
[Viva la Vida by Trio/Marimberos]
♪ Viva la vida ♪
[Long live the life]
♪ Que ayer, que ayer ♪
[That yesterday, that yesterday]
♪ Se fue ♪
[Left us]
♪ Vivan las sombras ♪
[Long live the shadows]
♪ De mis voces ♪
[Of my voices]
♪ Llorando lejos ♪
[Crying from afar]
♪ Vivan los sueños ♪
[Long live the dreams]
♪ Que nunca despertaron ♪
[That never awoke]
♪ Mi amor ♪
[My love]
♪ Felicidad ♪
[Happiness]
♪ ¿Qué importa ya? ♪
[What does it matter now?]
♪ Si canto a la luz de tu sombra ♪♪
[If I sing in the light of your shadow]
Cristina!
"Feet, what do I need you for,
if I have wings to fly?"
I want you to burn this Judas of a body.
I don't want to be buried.
I've spent enough time lying down.
Burn it.
Frida.
I don't think I'm Frida.
I think all the Frida in me has disappeared.
Look at what's left.
Why do you stay?
You stupid girl.
Are you crazy? I forbid it.
Stop it, Diego. You can't force me to stay.
- Oh, yes, I can.
- Give it to me!
No, Frida, no. We've been
through all this before.
I'm going, damn it! Give me my fucking leg!
- Doctor, please help me.
- What's going on here?
I told her she had to stay in bed.
She demanded we call you.
- I'm going to my exhibition.
- Frida!
I've waited for a show in my own country
my whole life. I'm not going to miss it.
If the bronchitis gets worse,
it will turn into pneumonia.
Frida, under no circumstances,
are you to leave this bed.
I'll bring you back all the gossip, I promise.
Cristina!
There was this skinny kid with
these eyebrows shouting up at me...
"Diego, I want to show you my paintings!"
But of course, she made me
come down to her.
I did, and I've never stopped looking.
But I want to speak about Frida
not as her husband,
but as an artist, an admirer.
Her work is acid and tender.
Hard as steel and fine as a butterfly's wing.
Lovable as a smile,
cruel as the bitterness of life.
I don't believe...
that ever before has a woman
put such agonised poetry on canvas.
Shut up, panzón! Who died?
Where is the music?
See, Doctor? I followed your orders.
I didn't leave my bed.
Frida.
Doctor, if you let me have this tequila,
I promise not to drink at my funeral.
- It's a deal.
- To Frida!
To Frida!
[La Llorona by Lila Downs]
♪ Salías del templo un día, llorona ♪
[Leaving the church one day, weeper]
♪ Cuando al pasar yo te vi ♪
[As I was passing by I saw you]
♪ Salías del templo un día, llorona ♪
[Leaving the church one day, weeper]
♪ Cuando al pasar yo te vi ♪
[As I was passing by I saw you]
♪ Hermoso huipil llevabas, llorona ♪
[A beautiful huipil you were wearing, weeper]
♪ Que la Virgen te creí ♪
[That I mistook you for Virgin Mary]
♪ Hermoso huipil llevabas, llorona ♪
[A beautiful huipil you were wearing, weeper]
♪ Que la Virgen te creí ♪♪
[That I mistook you for Virgin Mary]
- Are you all right?
- Lie down with me.
25 years together, mi Dieguito.
Frida!
Happy silver!
It's not for two more weeks.
17 days.
[Burn It Blue by Caetano Veloso & Lila Dawn]
♪ Burn this house ♪
♪ Burn it blue ♪
♪ Heart running on empty ♪
♪ So lost without you ♪
♪ But the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ Woman so weary ♪
♪ Spread your broken wings ♪
♪ Fly free as the swallow sings ♪
♪ Come to the fireworks ♪
♪ See the dark lady smile ♪
♪ She burns ♪
♪ And the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ Burn this night ♪
♪ Black and blue ♪
♪ So cold in the morning ♪
♪ So cold without you ♪
♪ And the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ Y la noche que se encendia ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ Y la cama que se eleva ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ A volar ♪
♪ And of the dark days ♪
♪ Painted in dark grey hues ♪
♪ They fade with the dream of you ♪
♪ Wrapped in red velvet ♪
♪ Dancing the night away ♪
♪ I burn ♪
♪ Midnight blue ♪
♪ Spread those wings ♪
♪ Fly free with the swallows ♪
♪ Fly οne with the wind ♪
♪ Y ella es flama que se eleva ♪
♪ Y es un pájaro a volar ♪
♪ Y es un pájaro a volar ♪
♪ En la noche que se incendia ♪
♪ El infierno es este cielo ♪
♪ And the night sky blooms with fire ♪
♪ Y ella es flama que se eleva ♪
♪ And the burning bed floats higher ♪
♪ Y es un pájaro a volar ♪
♪ And she's free to fly ♪
♪ Just a swallow in the sky ♪
♪ En la noche que se incendia ♪
♪ Painting heaven and hell much brighter ♪
♪ Estrella de oscuridad ♪
♪ Burn this house ♪
♪ Burn it blue ♪
♪ Heart running on empty ♪
♪ So lost without you ♪♪