Movie reviews of Victor Fraga

Despite the vintage cinematography and Colman’s performance, Empire of Light is not a masterpiece. A dull script, penned by Mendes himself, prevents both the romance and the racial issues from developing full-blossom. Review

Within Sand is a love letter to the country’s pulsating landscape. The desert is indeed the heart and the soul of the Arabic nation. Review

Spectacular Moroccan movie blends to perfection the topics of gay love and terminal disease. Review

This interesting little story makes multiple commentaries on female oppression, and it has a couple of clever twists. But it also has an extra dose of saccharine. The story often slips into cutesy melodrama territory. Review

Two young women from Norway find intimacy and comfort... on a chair!!! Unabashedly slow movie. Review

Phenomenal Romanian drama exposes the dirty tactics of youth oppression during the Communist era. Review

In other words, this is not a film that will make you cry, however it is educational and pleasant enough to watch. Review

A lone and devoted scientist studies and records the fauna and the flora of a remote Canadian Island for five decades - reflective documentary. Review

Young Tunisian man has to fend for himself and his two younger sisters, in a country that offers his generation very few opportunities - tantalising drama. Review

Dirtylicious Angolan gumbo of a movie blends religion, reason and colonialism into one single recipe. Review

If you don’t have much money, you should either keep your movie simple or find innovative solutions, instead of pretending that you are making a big blockbuster. The Last Queen is indeed an ambitious film, however it is barely audacious... Review

A Syrian refugee falls in love with an Ethiopian migrant worker, but their relationship has more obstacles than they anticipated - quirky Lebanese parable of (failed) social integration. Review

On the other hand, Hanging Gardens, lacks emotional vigour. The script often borders on the infantile, and the performances don’t always rise to the level of expectations required. As a result, the film often feels vapid and cold. Review

Super lighthearted Lebanese comedy about sauntering nuns smitten with a young actor cast to play the Pope caters mostly for Arab sensibilities. Review

Iranian filmmaker delivers magnificent piece of black and white, slow cinema about a mother released from prison and desperate to be reunited with her son. Review

Mino’s third film feels very puerile, infantile, almost as if it was made for children. Except that it isn’t. Review

While worth a view, And Yet We Were Blind is not a perfect film. The various subplot don’t always gel together, and ultimately feel banal. Review

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