Movie reviews of Victor Fraga

Make no mistake: this is neither Lars von Trier nor Jean-Luc Godard. This isn’t experimental cinema, either. Instead, Night looks like a student film put together in less than two weeks. Review

Gently subversive portrait of Empress Elisabeth of Austria boasts a magnificent lead (Vicky Krieps) and manifold poetic ruses. Review

There is no requirement for body doubles: the two beautiful and talented young women carry out the dance acts with confidence and grace. They are also very good actresses. Review

Extremely formulaic action thriller from Vietnam adds absolutely nothing new to the well-worn genre. Review

The soundtrack adds to final touch to this elegantly crafted movie. Review

Deaf identical twin brothers are suddenly afflicted with a shocking disease - extremely tragic and quietly innovative. Review

Dark romcom from Israel sets out to mock societal paradigms, but instead slips up into tedious platitudes. Review

The incredible real story of the unyielding friendship between an Austrian soldier and a fox during World War II is profound, inspiring and heart-wrenching. Review

Middle-aged loner drives his mother's corpse to her desired resting place, encountering curious characters and ghosts of the past along his journey - exquisite Icelandic drama with flavours of Bergman. Review

What starts out as a semi-slapstick comedy gradually morphs into a super violent crime caper. Review

Both Cantillana and Zegers, two experienced Chilean actors, are very strong. But it is Zegers who stands out, blending motherly love with female frustration in equal measures. Review

Bungalow is a cute little comedy. Not the laugh-out-loud type, but instead the one that makes you smile, snigger and grimace. Cyr and Cordeau are particularly strong in their roles. Review

Sashenka is some sort of Slavonic Norman Bates, with the maniacal laughter et al. Review

The lives of two teens are turned upside down after a brief and extremely awkward sexual encounter, in clever Swiss film raising questions about the nature of consent. Review

The story and the topic of Ann are indeed timely and urgent. The problem is that the movie is just too poorly executed. Review

The only aspect of the film that deserves significant praise is Eduan Kirching’s cinematography. Review

Sanaa is a moving and audacious drama fitting of the times. Review

Though the imperial glasses: well-meaning documentary about animal cruelty and endangered species presents the US as trailblazer in conservationism. Review

Tender and shocking in equal measures, A Taste of Whale is a film for animals lovers and carnivores alike. It might leave a bitter taste in your mouth if you belong to the latter category. Review

The Triangle of Happiness is an effective comedy, is a little too long at 140 minutes, with some very good moments but also a mostly redundant ending. Review

This is a beautiful film that could have done with more audacity on tarmac and a little more circumspection in its final denouement. Review

Spanish psychological thriller keeps audiences questioning the sanity of a female detective, in a fine and elegant literary adaptation. Review

The only scary thing about this highly disjointed and pointless J-horror is that it has reached a prestigious film festival on the other side of the planet. Review

The outcome is a far less visceral drama, more concerned with the collective issues of a community than with the subtle nuances of each character, and the psychology of the leads. What both films have in common is the outstanding performance from the non-professional child actors, and a palpable sense of rural realism. Review