MovieChat Forums > Frida (2002) Discussion > This movie's major flaw...

This movie's major flaw...

posted 20 years ago by trshea65
22 replies | jump to latest

...one that ruins a lot of its magic is the fact that it was shot in English. Can someone tell me why they thought it was appropriate to shoot this movie largely in English? Were they trying to say that Mexican culture has been Anglicized for a long time?

If it was shot in Spanish, the workers marching wouldn't have seemed as if they were chanting in a foreign language, and it would have made the New York sequences more alien. It makes so little sense.

I bet that this movie would have been in Spanish if it was released after THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.

[–] Nirannah 20 years ago

I've said it a million times on this board, I'll say it again. The message of the film "Frida" (which was that people can overcome great pain to rise to great heights) is the same no matter what language it is told in. If it had been shot in Spanish, it wouldn't have made that message more profound. All it would have done would have been to make a lot of the film's meaning be lost on the American public because we'd have to be reading subtitles, which isn't the same as listening to what actors say.

[–] trshea65 20 years ago

It wouldn't have made the message more profound; it would have made the movie seem more real. I looked at this movie as a biography; I could tell it went to lengths to translate her art to a cinematic interpretation. In the DVD, they mentioned how important real Mexican music was to certain parts of the score. Isn't the dialogue more important than the music?

I guess it's a suspension of disbelief issue for me. I can accept zombies being reanimated and eating living flesh, but I can't buy Frida Kahlo speaking perfect English in her most intimate moments...

I was hoping someone could tell me the real reason, or short of that, give up some guesses as to why.
Was it a strictly a commercial decision? I know I probably missed this argument, but I thought I'd throw it out there to generate discussion. I am certainly not trying to upset anyone, I have a legitimate question.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] trshea65 20 years ago

It wasn't that cut and dried, because the movie on many occasions has to decide "English or Spanish?" How much of SCHINDLER'S LIST is in German?

But, of course, you are right, it was a commercial decision. It just made the movie seem fake to me. Which is sad, because in most other respects, it is a remarkable movie, definitely a work of art. I know not everyone will agree with me about the impact of the language choices, but I also know that I can't be alone.

[–] chronicenigma 20 years ago

Having the film in English also gave the production access to a larger talent pool, we would have lost Alfred Molina's brilliant performance as Rivera, and chances are Julie Taymor would've been unable to direct a Spanish language movie, and without her vision this would not have been the spectacular film that it was.

[–] Leftmidder_2000 17 years ago

I actually found the English spoken by Americans quite Alien. Norton did a great job making himself sound as American as possible.

[–] Thought_Criminal_J62377 9 years ago

And this American(me) wouldn't have made the mistake of watching it if it was a foreign language movie. It's subject matter isn't interesting enough to go through the subtitle bull.

I wish it would've been in spanish, so I wouldn't have bothered to watch it at all, to be honest. But it's incredible how foreigners acknowledge it's an American movie and have the nerve to complain it was shot in English. Who misses the point that it's made foremost for American's, and as such, should be in our language? Duh!

Make your own boring Frida movie if you want it in your language!

Political Correctness Is The Enemy Of Reason...🇺🇸

[–] francarboni 20 years ago

I just caught up with this thread and yes, trshea65, this was a prefectly legitimate question, and no you are not alone....unfortunately, large US based productions cater strictly for the home audience and thus the dollars. Surprising as it may seem to some people, there is a world beyond that however, and the question of how we english speakers treat and view films that deal with subjects that originate in other parts of the world is an interesting one. Now that ''foreign '' language films are making the crossover into the mainstream and audiences become more accustomed to reading subtitles,maybe we will begin to see a more adventurous approach, especially after the success of The Passion. And I'm sure that Frida and Diego will be out there somewhere laughing at the irony of it all.....

[–] SntBacchus 20 years ago

...large US based productions cater strictly for the home audience and thus the dollars...

Not true. International grosses are frequently higher than domestic, and some movies that are made and released here are really targeted at that market.

Meanwhile, this was a labor of love for Salma Hayek. When you know that someone invested her heart and soul into a movie, I think it's safe to trust her artistic decisions.

I bet that this movie would have been in Spanish if it was released after THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.

Not unless Frida Kahlo has a cult of millions that nobody knows about. People didn't see The Passion because of its realistic depiction of life in Biblical times.

The universal translator is just one of those things that filmgoers have to accept, kind of like how crosscutting means that things are happening simultaneously.

---
"Your tales of delusion lack interest or creativity." -http://www.actsofgord.com

[–] Limonada 18 years ago

Salma shot the movie in Spanish because she had to; she had been trying to get this movie made for years, and the only way the project was gonna get Miramax's support was by making the movie in English.

[–] stinky-tushy 18 years ago

I'm cool with it being in english. What bothered me was that the actors had to speak in spanish-accented english, as though I'd otherwise forget that it was set in mexico about mexicans. Which is fine if that IS the way the actor speaks english. But just silly for, example, an englishman like Molina and southern girl like Judd.

[–] Limonada 18 years ago

Judd was playing an Italian character.

[–] littleg089 18 years ago

No matter how real or unreal the movie was without it being done in Spanish, Frida's living family found it to be the most accurate and beautiful portrayal of Frida's life.

As said in an interview with Selma in the Special Features of the DVD

[–] acii 17 years ago

Either way,
fab movie, kudos to Salma, she was fantastic.
Another great flick is the bio of Camille Claudel,
the lover and protege of Rodin.

[–] fletch-53 18 years ago

I'm pretty sure there is the Language option on the DVD for Spanish. Unfortunately most Americans would not watch a movie if it's all in subtitles. Regardless of which language it was shot in.

Ulysses Everett McGill: Well I don't want FOP, godammit! I'm a Dapper Dan man!

[–] ThomBjork 18 years ago

It didn't bother me in this film because the acting was good.

HOWEVER....

It bothered me in "Memoirs of a Geisha"....

[–] bjorkpluto 18 years ago

I think the question is legitimate.Its sad that America is so Anglo that the American people would not want to see a Spanish speaking film. The film easily could of had subtitles. The movie should of been shot in Spanish because that was the language Frida spoke! Its sad that in Hollywood they don't make more movies with subtitles. I think it cheapens the movie to have it made in English. This movie was about a Mexican woman and it should of been shot in Spanish.

[–] boudicca7 18 years ago

....because most americans are so lazy that they wont watch a movie with subtitles!

[–] fletch-53 18 years ago

Let's face the truth here: Most American films get dubbed in many different languages for the rest of the "Lazy" world to enjoy also. It works both ways folks!

Ulysses Everett McGill: Well I don't want FOP, godammit! I'm a Dapper Dan man!

[–] tyurbrner 17 years ago

yep, it is a shallow treatment of kahlo and her life work.

>> An armadillo could be a
better president than Bush. <<

[–] DanceswCats 17 years ago

"Not unless Frida Kahlo has a cult of millions that nobody knows about. People didn't see The Passion because of its realistic depiction of life in Biblical times"

Hahaha, that's funny!!! We shall call them "KAHLOlics" (get it? instead of CATHOlics???) Guess who's bored on a Sat. night??.....

[–] 17 years ago

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