An exotic locale in beautiful Portugal, an unaffected and powerful performance by a star actress and existential worriment. This is what you can expect from “Frankie,” an ensemble film directed by Ira Sachs that’s asthmatic and lacks energy but fascinated me, nevertheless, because of its main actress Isabelle Huppert and her incredible on-screen presence.Huppert is one of France’s biggest names.

Spanning ten years through the late Nineties Keep The Lights On by Ira Sachs (Forty shades of blue, Married life) chronicles a doomed relationship spawned from a one-night-stand. In a dingy New York bedroom Erik trolls the phone sex lines looking for a score. His efforts lead him to a man named Paul in Chelsea, who’s looking for the same. Soon thereafter, it is revealed that our real antagonist is Paul, a straight and square young man by day