Movie reviews of Victor Fraga

The film provides some interesting insight into the African cultures of Brazil. But it fails to go into too much depth. Review

Dotted with awkward surprises and very strange symbolisms, Undine firmly establishes the Christian Petzold’s reputation as one of Germany’s most innovative auteurs. Review

In aesthetic and formal terms, this is a very unusual and audacious film. The problem is that it simply fails to captivate and moo-ve! Review

Urgent in its simplicity, Philippe Garrel's filmmaking continues to impress after nearly six decades. Review

Biopic of Antonio Ligabue, one of the greatest Naive artists of the 20th century, is aesthetically accomplished yet a little soporific. Review

Wacky Argentinian comedy-horror deep-dives into the twisted psychology of a female dubber and singer. Review

Corporate greed poisons a small community of Japan, in this real-life drama about environmental pollution and international solidarity, starring Johnny Depp. Review

Highly digestible drama reflects on the conflict between literary aspirations and industry demands. Review

Construction worker separated from his family in Romania has to grapple with financial hardship and bigotry in Brexit Britain, in a psychological drama prescient of a bleak future to come. Review

A tender coming-of-age story set against a very tragic backdrop. Review

HIV-positive teen grapples with a dysfunctional family and society, in this extremely bleak yet sobering drama from the Phillipines. Review

The landscape is impressive yet threatening. The narrative, however, has quite a few loopholes. Review

Blind Russian teen marries a Russian oligarch whom she never met, in this sombre tale of patriarchy. Review

Russians and Americans battle on the chessboard at the height of the Cold War, in this extremely formulaic political thriller from Poland. Review

He reveals that the teachings of Buddhism can be easily subverted for very mundane and unholy purposes. Religious hypocrisy can be a powerful manipulation tool. Review

Four Kosovan actors cross the border illegally in order to perform at a theatre festival in neighbouring Albania, in this simple and captivating comedy about artistic resilience and foolishness. Review

An unbelievable yet true story. A typical case of reality surpassing fiction. Review

Dead Volume would work as a theatre play, with just one setting and four characters. Review

It feels a little random and unimaginative. Plus the violence in the very last sequence is excessive and gratuitous. All in all, a misfire. Review

Two Greek friends in search of an elusive porn star from the 1990s embark on a dazzling journey peppered with imagination, allegory and copious filmic ruses. Review

Japanese film built upon highly abstract allegorical devices is a profound meditation on family relations and the wounds of war. Review

Golden Voices has some ingredients an old-age romcom, yet it’s never mawkish and implausible. In fact, it’s perfectly relatable and credible – whatever your age, religion and nationality. Review

The Girl with no mouth is indeed constructed as a children’s movie. The Manichæan battle of good versus bad, with a very simplified plot. The didactic message of tolerance and diversity. A child’s adventure: pirate clothes, slingshots and swords. And as such it’s more likely to rivet and enthral little human beings. Those under 12 years of age will likely holler as our four juvenile heroes contend with the malevolent adul... Review

Son abandons his job and career in order to take care of terminally ill mother, in extremely powerful and intimate meditation on family values and death. Review