Movie reviews of Victor Fraga

Zhang Yimou's intended celebration of old-fashioned celluloid cinema constantly slips into cliches and banality. Review

Charlotte Gainsbourg gets behind the camera in order to capture her iconic mother in her most tender and yet lonely moments. Review

Despite a terrific performance and a well-meaning script, The Last Bus is not a masterpiece. Review

Orphaned teen is placed under the care of her dysfunctional aunt and criminal cousins, in this harrowing crime drama from Denmark. Review

A young woman becomes infatuated with a park ride, in this very strange yet plausible tale of forbidden love. Review

This sobering documentary is also a very conventional one, vaguely reminiscent of old-fashioned ethnographic documentary practices of John Grierson and Robert Flaherty. Most interactions are highly conversational, and the music score is festive and upbeat. Review

Chaotic music intoxicates the tumultuous urban landscape of the Peruvian capital, in this highly sensory and hypnotic doc. Review

Quietly enrapturing American drama portrays simmering male rage and powerlessness in a sympathetic light. Review

Two theology students grapple with the authoritarian Czechoslovakian regime and the collaborationist Catholic Church, in this somber and poetic period drama. Review

This subtle blend of coming-of-age, feminist and Indigenous tale has some moving moments, particularly Margo’s awkward reconnection with her mother. Yet it fails to deep-dive into any of these topics, instead getting diluted in an increasingly multi-threaded narrative. Review

Strong performances, a gripping script and a stunning cinematography of the verdant mountains of Montana make Cowboys recommended viewing. Review

This stoic and laconic piece of reflective cinema investigates the repercussions of social and mental vulnerability. Review

Bobbi Jene Smith and other dancers star in romance blending choreography and narrative wizardry; the outcome is boisterous, energetic and somewhat messy. Review

This 86-minute documentary is engaging and informative enough to convert new fans. Review

This is a short film that will stay with you long after it finished. Review

The lush hills dotted with sheep and a sapphire blue lake provide the backdrop to this very slow story. Review

Bet gone wrong: "Scorsese-inspired" Iranian movie about gambling is so protracted and repetitive that it's barely watchable,... Review

A quiet and reticent teen returns to her tragic and painful roots, in Colombian film bursting with authenticity and a peculiar vintage feel. Review

Brandauer is quietly impressive in the lead. He conveys a broad spectrum of emotions with sparse facial movements, in a film with abundant close-ups. Review

A Spanish "finisher" helps people to depart from this world, in poetic movie raising philosophical and ethical questions about life and death. Review

This very peculiar storytelling device, which renders the film strangely charming and quaint. Review

Old writer seeks to reconnect with his past as he senses his imminent departure, in this very fine piece of slow cinema from Kyrgyzstan. Review

Delightful Russian rom-com shows a Russian sensibility little known to Western audiences more used to the country's raw and bleak cinema. Review

Young writer refuses to leave his bed as his seeks inspiration for his new book, in this laborious Mongolian drama. Review