When I’m not knee-deep in design at my new job, I’m either reading, writing, or making art. When I’m too exhausted to do any of that, (which, by the way, is most of the time: adulthood is a trap you guys) I’m vegging out in front of Netflix. While I will binge-watch Gossip Girl, PLL, and Parks and Rec like any other girl, I generally prefer to watch artsy, indie films or documentaries. (I’m a Vanessa. Or half Vanessa, half Blair. It’s a rough life.)

So when Netflix started showing Frida about a month ago, it popped into my queue and I clicked it without really knowing what I was getting into. Guys, this is one of my new favorite movies. It’s so good. So, so good. WATCH IT NOW.

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About Frida

Frida is an Oscar-winning biopic about the life of the 20th century painter Frida Kahlo, and stars Salma Hayek as Kahlo (she also produced the film) and Alfred Molina as her husband, muralist Diego Rivera. The movie beautifully chronicles their tumultuous relationship (Kahlo and Rivera, both wildly passionate and jealous people, had an open relationship) and Kahlo’s life as an artist, as well as her medical issues, infertility, and her political life.

The movie was widely acclaimed and was selected as a movie of the year by the American Film Institute in 2002. Hayek was nominated for an Oscar for her role, but ultimately lost to Nicole Kidman for her role as Virginia Woolf in The Hours. (It was a good year for movie adaptions about 20th century ladies, yo.) The movie went on to win Oscars for Best Makeup and Best Original Score.

There are so many things to love about this movie. Firstly, it’s about Frida freaking Kahlo, a smoking, drinking, swearing Communist feminist who was both a fiercely independent artist and a woman who lived her life for love and her family. Secondly, Hayek slays as Kahlo, and her chemistry with Molina on-screen is both sizzling and tender. Finally, everything about this movie is gorgeous – the soundtrack is gorgeous, the costumes are gorgeous, and the settings – Mexico City, Paris, New York City – are gorgeous. But what I love most about this movie is the treatment of Kahlo’s artwork.