Movie reviews of Victor Fraga

The real story of two Spanish women who married with one of them posing as a man almost 120 years ago is a superb piece of filmmaking, excelling both in technical and in dramatic terms. Review

The story is both riveting and plausible, with strong performances by the three leads. There is an important message about the failure of capitalism driving young people to religious fundamentalism. But there is also a very significant political issue with Farewell to the Night. Review

Italian gangster movie set in Naples has flavours of Neorealism and portrays a disturbing type of masculinity negotiated at a very young age... Review

Christian Bale is very convincing in the skin of a cold, calculating, arrogant, selfish, unrepentant and unscrupulous politician. Review

Parable about departure and family allegiances set in a rural village on the Anatolian mountains of Turkey has a stupefying cinematography... Review

Fatih Skin's serial killer saga is a bizarre tribute to faith and ugliness, and it's absolutely dirtylicious in its unabashed wackiness. Review

Espionage drama about undercover Mossad agent working in Tehran has enough stamina to keep you hooked for two hours, and it's not a piece of Israeli propaganda. Review

Overall, Out Stealing Horses is an effective and moving drama. However, I did struggle to follow the numerous characters and twists, and to work out the subtle cultural differences between Sweden and Norway. Review

The story relies almost entirely on the horrific fits. The narrative arc is rather flat, with a climax every two minutes and very little respite. Review

Wang Quan’an’s Ondog is one of those sensory filmic experiences where the narrative is extremely slow and seemingly secondary. Review

Francois Ozon is best remembered for his psychological dramas, psychosexual thrillers and twisted comedies. He has now moved into an almost entirely new territory: Catholic faith and paedophilia. The outcome is nothing short of magnificent. Review

Cold and soulless: this blend of thriller and dark comedy starring a lethargic Liam Neeson has very little to offer other than the occasional Colorado wintry landscape. Review

Bleak, unoriginal and very violent: how the latest American sci-fi movie produced by James Cameron & co left me mostly numb and cold. Review

Biopic of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a fitting tribute to gender equality, if also a little romanticised. Review

Irish horror about mother convinced that her son isn't her son anymore recycles old suspense tropes, and is effective enough to keep you hooked for 90 minutes. Review

A feelgood tearjerker with an upbeat ending. Review

While the director deserves credit for being respectful and non-exploitative, the film lacks a little ingeniousness and imagination. Review

A powerful historical drama, with excellent performances, photography and an invigorating music score to support the events. Review

This is an important film with its heart at the right place. Review

This not a patchwork of random short films. It all gels together neatly. The films flow nicely, just like the River Thames. Review

It’s never a chore to sit through, but it’s never riveting, either. Review

Acceptable Damage is a very tender and feminine film... Review

If you wish to idolise and celebrate an active judge, why not make a fiction film instead? Review

An exquisite black and white film fusing documentary-making, lyricism and experimentalism. Review