Page 16 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, December 2, 1988 Frida cany artist's life, ra.w7.71i.7 BY MARK SHAIMAN W hen a director has the ingenuity and ability to create a film that works within the style of the artist that he is portraying, the film itself can be a work of art. Such is the case with Paul Leduc's film, Frida, about the most important female artist to have come out of Latin America, Frida Kahlo. Frida's art was strongly influenced, y. the events in her life, especially one incident in particular. While in her teens, she was in an accident and impaled in the mid-section by a large piece of metal. This left her both physically and emotionally scarred for the rest of her short life. She "suffered back problems, wound up confined to a wheel chair, and then eventually had to have a leg amputated. She was able to find some amount of release by visually expressing her pain. This incident is graphically depicted in her art, which is dominated by self-portraits. And .the film is successful because, like Frida, it relies on the visual aspects of art. There is very little dialogue involved, but little is needed because the scenes and imagery are descriptive enough to convey the important events in Frida's life. The color red is used throughout the film as a symbol for both blood and her involvement with the communist party - at one point, she literally immerses herself in her art by spreading red paint along her arms. Along with her interest in the work party came her relationship with, and marriage to, Diego Rivera, the great Mexican muralist. Rivera had been influential in helping to provide refuge for Leon Trotsky in Mexico after he was ousted from the Soviet Union and thus Frida came into close contact with the Soviet exile. Leduc also includes many Latin American folk songs to take the place of dialogue and tie the characters closer together in their struggle for a communistic society. Ironically, the slogan for the party was "Long Live Life," for Frida lived The film is successful because, like Frida, it relies on the visual aspects of art. There is very little dialogue involved, but little is needed because the scenes and imagery are descriptive enough. only until her mid-40s. When she finally had a gallery presentation of her work, she had to arrive on a hospital bed and be propped up to see her paintings. Though her life was short, this film is a lasting tribute to a woman who has achieved immortality through her art. Following the 7 p.m. showing, Diane Kirkpatrick -of the History of Art Department and Margarita Hurtardo, a Ph.D. candidate in the American Culture Department will speak on the works and life of Frida Kahlo and on the biographical film. Paul Leduc's film FRIDA will be presented by the Ann Arbor Film Coop at 7:00 and 9:30 at MLB 3 on Saturday. 4 Hill Auditorium will play host to the seasonal favorite, Handel's The Messiah. Be sure to stand up for the Halleluiah chorus. Handel Continued from Page 13 Almost every chorus in Handel's Messiah has found its way to the modern public's ear. "The magnificance of the Messiah is partly in its internationality. No other oratorio could fill concert halls all over the world each year. Its familiarity is what is so unique," says Donald Bryant, who is celebrating his 20th year of conducting the masterpiece. This musical biography of Christ will be a special performance this year not only for the audience but also the performers. The four soloists, Ashley Putnam, Kathleen Segar, Richard Frackner and Stephen Bryant, all have degrees from the University's School of Music. "It's special to be back as an alumni performing with other grads as professionals," says Kathleen Segar, who will be singing mezzo-soprano. "Choruses from the Messiah are classically some of the first pieces any music student will learn as a singer. It is meaningful- an achievement - to perform it in its entirety. And it's great to be back representing the School at Hill Auditorium," adds the frequent performer with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the New York City Opera. The University Choral Union, composed of a community-wide membership including townspeople, faculty and students (which is open to all by audition) will be continuing their tradition in song, which began in 1879. If you're worried about the length, don't kid yourself, any Michigan football game lasts at least three hours. And if you think those hours go faster because of the beer, try wassail (a spiced cider with brandy, traditional at Christmas) - it packs a more formidable punch than Mad Dog. The stuff they were drinking out of those wooden kegs was not Budweiser. Sunday's performance will be the only full-length production, for the stout only; Fridays and Saturdays have been abridged. But the more Christmas traditions, the merrier, right? Note: Messiah Etiquette: It is also a tradition to stand during the Alleluiah chorus- You'll know it when you hear it. Oh, and please, no stage diving. THE MESSIAH will be performed at Hill Auditorium Friday and Saturday 8 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. Tickets are $3, $4, $5 and $8 at Burton Memorial Tower. Stay tuned, holiday shoppers. If you are more into singing yourself the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra's "Caroling by Candlelight" concerts are coming up. 4 Frida Kahlo was a brilliant artist who led a dark life but wouldn't allow herself to be overshadowed by a traumatic childhood injury. f .r ... ..._,..... ... _..: ...: L. .. ... . - _ -v. ,,. '.. _ __._ _, _..:......r _ s.-;r 1.....-. xvS... :...._... .., .cis 5, .t.2-'t- .. w _.. _-, ar._ai. _t.. C. II M' G, L S/FAi rTHNIEIT MVosL.' 1\er-chaits jf ° ." -~ Ii! .-. f 'Til ivlidni @ht 0 Friday Dec. 2 .. _ _ ~.. 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