Victoria

Trailer

Directed by Sebastian Schipper

Germany, 2015

Drama

138
English, German
English

Synopsis

Victoria is a Spanish girl in Berlin. She meets four mates outside a club who introduce themselves as Sonne, Boxer, Blinker and Fuß. Victoria and Sonne start to flirt. The problem is that Sonne has to finish a little job with his gang, and they decide to take Victoria with them. A long night ensues.

Our take

An entire drama shot in a single camera movement? It’s not only possible, it’s thrilling. Few films in recent memory have used the long take to such a audacious extreme as Victoria, a bravura, serpentine tour of a single night in Berlin held in the camera’s taut suspense.

Victoria Directed by Sebastian Schipper

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Awards & Festivals

Berlin International Film Festival

2015 | 3 wins including: Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas

Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente

2015

European Film Awards

2015 | 4 nominations including: Audience Award

London Critics Circle Film Awards

2017 | Nominee: Foreign Language Film of the Year

2017 | Winner: Technical Achievement of the Year

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Cast & Crew

Articles from the Notebook

TIFF 2015. Correspondences #2

Our Toronto festival conversation continues with one of the best American films of the year , “45 Years” and “Victoria”.

Critics reviews

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Schipper’s low-budget drama about a reckless young girl’s excursion into the world of crime would be an ordinary enough affair were it not for the astonishing fact that he and cinematographer Sturla Brandth Grøvlen shot the whole film in a single take, roaming the streets of Berlin to encompass 22 different locations en route. Bolstered by an atmospheric score by Nils Frahm and masterful performances by its young leads… the result is a lively and engrossing exercise in creative swagger.

Lisa Mullen

March 04, 2016

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AnOther

Armrest-clenching adrenaline and the impulsivity of Berlin’s “anything goes” hedonism combine with technical virtuosity in Sebastian Schipper’s impressive arthouse twist on the heist movie. In one long, exhilarating take in real time through 22 locations and with a pounding electronic soundtrack by Nils Frahm Victoria reels us along with a Spanish ex-pat (Laia Costa) from a night out clubbing into a bank robbery with sensitive tough Sonne (Frederick Lau) and his friends.

Carmen Gray

November 27, 2015

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Victoria is unthinkable without Sturla Brandth Grøvlen’s unfailingly dazzling camera work, which earned him a deserved Silver Bear at this year’s Berlinale, as well as the first slot in the film’s closing credits. A covert member of the group and participant in every action, his versatile camera injects each scene with the requisite mood, conveying Victoria’s shifting frame of mind.

Giovanni Marchini Camia

October 09, 2015

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What are people saying?

LauraPalmer's rating of the film Victoria
LauraPalmer

Laia Costa + soundtrack and cinematography
February 15, 2019 19:33
- 10
- 0
Daniel Roque's rating of the film Victoria
Daniel Roque

The starting psychedelia and visual nausea gave me some early Gaspar Noé vibes, but as Victoria's night crumbles into an exhilarating rollercoaster, you forget you're watching a movie, you're part of the movie. Technically outstanding, the +2 hours single take is filled with improvised dialogue and Nils Frahm's score provides the perfect atmosphere to it.
January 24, 2019 18:15
- 10
- 1
Donia Shohdy's rating of the film Victoria
Donia Shohdy

If Kaurismäki watched 'Victoria' I bet he would reconsider his statement about the cinema being dead since 1962. This movie is such a slap on the face, proving that there is always a room for new "Original-never done before" masterpieces. It's just perfect!
February 16, 2019 09:50
- 15
- 0
Justine Vernera's rating of the film Victoria
Justine Vernera

With all the fallacies of rational actions, that just make one be all "guys, c'mon, don't", this is still one of the best 2015 films I've seen. Excellent acting and superb suspense. Ever had a strange night, meeting morning with random people doing random shit? This one gives the same feeling, x 10.
January 24, 2019 18:12
- 7
- 0
Luis Pires's rating of the film Victoria
Luis Pires

What a brilliant film. The dialogue was amazing, with most of it being improvised, the soundtrack by Nils Frahm is really good, the acting, the camera work obviously, etc etc. This one-take wonder is definitely a must-watch for cinema lovers.
January 24, 2019 18:12
- 10
- 0
saitosouta's rating of the film Victoria
saitosouta

In other movies, Long-take is just tool for representing dir's something to tell you. OH FUCK. But, in this movie, Long-take is purely pure long-take without meaning. So, "Victoria" is not movie, "Victoria" is long-take. Style named long-take without content. Most Idealistic movie for me. SUPERB, SUPERB, SUPERB, SUPERB, SUPERB, SUPERB, SUPERB. REVOLUTION. Milestone in film history, everlastingly artistic achievement.
February 17, 2019 11:15
- 10
- 0
ginobartolomi's rating of the film Victoria
ginobartolomi

Few films have attempted to tell a story in a single take...successfully- even fewer. This is a two part film- part one a love story and part two a tragedy. Brilliant acting, gritty realism, with strokes of genius in lighting and music throughout. Nothing less than a masterpiece! My vote for Best Foreign Feature 2015 hands down.
January 24, 2019 18:10
- 5
- 0
Stefan Drees's rating of the film Victoria
Stefan Drees

Schipper's idea of capturing the whole film with one single shot and therefore using a moving camera which is always close to the protagonists creates a special atmosphere of restlessness. The fermatas of this adrenaline kick are often derived from a special treatment of sound, e.g. the moment of Victoria's piano performance or the second stop in the club where the whole soundscape is faded out.
June 25, 2018 16:20
- 1
- 0