As a biographical drama, it examines the ethical ambiguity and power of alternative medicine, yet what could have been a complex study becomes a scattered narrative, often marred by erratic direction from Holland. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 5/10 | Feb 17, 2025

This is a confused but intriguing character study, and an even-handed look at our perceptions of alternative medicine.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Dec 10, 2024

A sea of contradictions... a refreshing portrait of a man with all his contradictions. [Full review in Spanish]

| Jun 8, 2022

His conflicting behavior turns us into enemies and supporters at the same time [Full review in Spanish]

| Oct 31, 2021

Sober, lucid, well intoned and inevitably a bit cold. [Full Review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 18, 2021

Jaroslava Pokorna's performance as Jan Palach's mother is superb. [Full review in Spanish]

| Sep 27, 2021

A fascinating and well-executed biopic that gives a local icon an international audience.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 31, 2021

A certainly provocative idea is proposed, then it offers a vision of communism much darker than that of Nazism, which is given the photographic treatment. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 18, 2021

Charlatan gives a good account of [Jan Mikoláek's] dilemmas. [Full review in Spanish]

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 9, 2021

The acting and production design are both top-notch.

| Jul 27, 2021

It makes you not like this guy, and I'm pretty dubious about this whole medical treatment.

| Jul 27, 2021

Far from slowing down at age 72, Agnieszka Holland's done some of her best work in recent years.

| Jul 23, 2021

Holland... deftly moves the story through its present and past and elicits understated performances throughout the entire cast, all without excessive sentimentality.

| Jul 23, 2021

Holland has the character remain opaque, to the point where the final reels are almost excruciating in their depiction of a man who will not yield to our expectations of redemption or enlightenment. This is interesting.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 23, 2021

Holland extends her look at struggle of individual vs. State through more of 20th century onto one unusual life... As frank as it is cynical about heroism and nonconformity.

| Original Score: 9/10 | Jul 22, 2021

Often as thorny as its subject but also oddly fascinated by his near-magical abilities, "Charlatan" is a temporary cure for the common biopic.

| Jul 22, 2021

"Charlatan" may take a prismatic approach to Mikoláek's life, but it is uniformly strong. Holland introduces viewers to a man and a story that would be unknown otherwise. It is a remarkable tale, well told.

| Jul 21, 2021

While the movie has some mixed messages, the story is fascinating and the performances are great.

| Jul 20, 2021

Was he pulling the wool over their eyes, or did he really believe in what he was doing? Fascinating.

| Original Score: A- | Jul 18, 2021

Throughout the film, Agnieszka Holland makes clear that she isn't interested in easily digestible pop-psychology nuggets.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 18, 2021