Movie reviews of Victor Fraga

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

Festival darling Hong Sang-soo presents a meditation on the life of the filmmaker; his style remains as conversational and spontaneous as ever. Review

Biopic of obscure Chinese writer intends to celebrate female empowerment but instead slips into tawdry regime propaganda... Review

A profoundly pretentious and downright boring movie. You are welcome to try and milk some deep philosophical meaning, yet you may might end up succumbing to filmic malnutrition. Review

The story is almost entirely narrated from the perspective of the manifold victims, in talking heads style. Review

The young Quilez is outstanding in the skin of the troubled young mother, and she could easily win the Best Leading Performance Award at this year’s San Sebastian Film Festival. Review

The tone of the film becomes far more thoughtful and reflective. Perhaps a little too meditative even. Review

Mexican film about dispassionate porn actor and "sex influencer" is mostly as lifeless and formulaic as the film industry it purports to portray. Review

It is very fascinatingly uncomfortable to watch, yet it is unlikely to make a significant contribution to the debate around xenophobia and immigrant working conditions. The wilfully monstrous characters and imagery are just too exaggerated for that purpose. What you get instead instead is a darkly lyrical film... Review

The Beasts is a gripping rural thriller with a duration of 130 minutes that fly by very quickly. That’s thanks to the effective script, powerful dialogues and sterling performances. Review