Makeover for mustachioed Frida. (New Business).

The Palacio de Bellas Artes was the set in early November for the star-studded premiere of "Frida," which was among the top films in the U.S. market at the same time Mexican intellectuals were lambasting the film at home.

Leading figures from all steps of Mexican life attended the gala event, and President Vicente Fox went so far as to express his regret at being unable to attend the screening in deference to his stepson's wedding.

Hollywood star and Veracruz native Salma Hayek arrived with a security detail generally reserved for heads of state and proceeded to defend the picture from critics, who blasted it as catering to the "gringo" market and sensationalizing the life of Kahlo.

"The film was made with American money, money that was invested in Mexico. To be able to recover that, the film had to be in English," said Hayek. "But Frida's art is for everyone."

The Americanization of Kahlo, who openly expressed her distaste for her northern neighbors and was staunchly aligned with Communist revolutionaries, was cited by some market insiders as the sign of a continuing trend of filmmakers to color their art in tastes palpable to the dominant U.S. cinema dollar.