A “masterpiece” thriller that was shot in one take left one fan saying, “I don’t know how they did it”. Victoria (2015) tells the story of a young Spanish woman (played by Laia Costa) from whom the film gets its name, who is new to Berlin and yet to make any close friends in the city.
After going to a club on her own, she meets and befriends four young men who failed to get in and hits it off with one in particular, Sonne (played by Frederick Lau). The group invite her to join them as they walk through the city, but unbeknownst to her they’ve got a dangerous secret that will soon put them all in peril.
The film was directed by Sebastian Schipper, who was also one of the co-writers, and is said not to feature a single cut – with actors at the mercy of traffic, pedestrians, and forgetting lines as the action moves through the German capital over the course of two hours.
The cast rehearsed for months beforehand and shot the action three times. Audiences were blown away by the technical achievement and agile performances from the cast.
One fan on Rotten Tomatoes wrote: “This was a phenomenal film. From start to finish it kept me hooked. Brilliant acting from everyone.
“Superb directing and beautiful and emotional scenes. A masterpiece of film making.”
Another said: “Wow, what a rush! It’s a story so overwhelming and really stressing. Young people acting poorly and doing stupid things, it’s an spiral of bad decisions, but well done written. Great movie.”
A third added: “An exceptionally innovative and well-crafted take on chaos, spontaneity and the driving forces behind our desire for inclusion.
“This immersive experiment will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
Some fans weren’t convinced by the story, which rapidly rachets up to an extraordinarily dramatic conclusion, and others suggested the one-shot conceit was “gimmicky”.
But most seemed to be bowled over by it’s gripping story and execution.
One fan took to IMDb to shower the film with praise, writing: “I don’t know how they did it, but the story soaks you up and spits you out. What seems as a typical Drama midway turns into an emotional roller-coaster, that leaves you behind speech- and breathless.”
“This is a film that defines modern filmmaking in a new, genuine way”, they added.
Victoria is Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, where is has an 82% score on the site’s Tomatometer, reflecting the percentage of approved critics who gave it a positive review. It also has a strong 83% based on the response of among general audiences.
The film has a 15 certificate and contains strong language, and drug use – so may not be for everyone.
Victoria is available to rent or buy on Apple TV and Amazon Prime, and rent on Curzon.
