Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits have become so iconic that seeing her as a real person in home movies gives an odd little jolt. That’s one pleasant surprise in this 2004 documentary on Kahlo’s life and—to a frustratingly lesser extent—work. With support from PBS, Amy Stechler (Ken Burns’s ex-wife and a writer and editor on several of his early projects) uses the now formulaic mix of photographs, archival footage, and interviews with experts (author Carlos Fuentes is a standout) to take us through Kahlo’s life: the traumatic accident, her devotion to Diego Rivera, and her numerous affairs. It’s solid and informative, if a bit too familiar. In English and subtitled Spanish. 86 min.
