Top weekend movies at Dubai Film Fest

As we approach the final leg of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff), here is your last chance to enjoy cinematic fare that you could almost never catch in a theatre near you.

Emirates 24|7 has picked out its top choices for DIFF’s last three days, with films by local Emirati talents, along with world cinematic delights that are sure to entertain you.

Friday
December 17

THE PHILOSOPHER
UAE

Director Abdulla AlKaabi directs this powerful short film, with Baggio (Jean Reno) a successful Parisian, a pianist, footballer and bon vivant. Yet he feels there is something missing from his life and one day, he decides to rid himself of all his possessions and embark on a life of aesthetic contemplation.

However, things don't go according to plan and Baggio is offered shelter by Leo, a lonely former alcoholic. The slow friendship that emerges between the two men is beautifully documented in this charming, poignant film.

Venue: Madinat Arena; Dh80; 8pm. Also showing on Saturday and Sunday at

Mall of the Emirates at 7.30pm and 1pm, respectively; Dh25

MICROPHONE
Egypt

When a wanderlust (Khaled Aboul Naga) returns to Alexandria after years of travel he discovers that his girlfriend is packing up and emigrating. Meanwhile, his relationship with his ailing father has deteriorated beyond repair.

Confused, depressed and alone, he walks the city streets at night, brooding over his life until one night, he chances upon the city’s hidden subculture – rappers, rockers, and graffiti artists. Director Ahmad Abdalla opens up a whole world of creativity, expression and art with finesse.

Venue: Jumeirah Beach Residence; 8:00pm; free screening

INSHALLAH, FOOTBALL
India

Ashvin Kumar directs a poignant drama about a young Kashmiri boy, obsessed with football, but trapped by circumstances.

Basharat is the captain of the teenage ISAT football team, made up of local kids. When he wins a football scholarship to Brazil ¬ home of his idol Pele – it seems as if Basharat will be escaping the hardships and tensions of Kashmir for a dream life abroad.

Leaving Kashmir, however, proves to be a nightmare - as Basharat’s father is a prominent militant and over the course of a two-year battle, Basharat’s quest for a passport and freedom to travel, becomes an epic undertaking. Will he succeed?

Venue: Mall of the Emirates; 10:15pm; Dh25. Also on Saturday at same venue at 4pm.

BORED
UAE

Set in Kerala – the first Emirati production to shoot in the Indian state – Nayla Al Khaja’s, who directs and stars in “Malal”, shows a young Emirati couple on their honeymoon. Their approach to the relationship and commitment to the marriage is the theme of the film, providing a revealing and frank insight into the realities of arranged marriages and the challenges faced by modern-day Emirati couples.

Venue: Mall of the Emirates; 3.30pm; Dh25

Saturday
December 18

BIUTIFUL
Spain, Mexico

Uxbal is a forlorn, middle-aged single father living in a run-down part of Barcelona. Estranged from his irresponsible wife, engaged in all manner of illicit activities and running a surreal sideline as a medium whispering to corpses in order to communicate with them in the hereafter, his life is a tangle of loyalties and broken dreams.

When Uxbal is diagnosed with terminal cancer, his outlook is forced into a radical shift, forcing him to reassess the squalor of his activities (exploiting illegal Chinese and African immigrants) and consider anew the life he has made for his two children. Watch only for Javier Bardem.

Venue: First Group Theatre; 10.30pm; Dh25

DAMASCUS WITH LOVE
Syria

Rima, a Syrian-Jewish girl is about to emigrate from Damascus. When her father reveals an old secret to her at the airport, she cancels her trip and returns to explore the past. This long search will unveil the other face of the city, where many cultures live together in rare harmony.

“Damascus With Love” is a film about love, people, memory and place. Ultimately, Rima will find herself facing a difficult choice, but the city itself will keep the door of love and choices wide open to infinite possibilities.

Venue: Mall of the Emirates; 10pm; Dh25

NOISE
India

A fresh, invigorating slice of contemporary storytelling, “Noise” exudes the energy, chaos and yes, sheer noise of its featured city, Mumbai. In this darkly comic drama, we plunge into the heart of Mumbai during the Ganesha festival, rendering the city into a state of overdrive, while focusing on three distinct stories.

A young man returns home from abroad, to find his home city as confusing and maddening as ever. A counterfeiter discovers a bag with quite literally, explosive contents. And finally, an eager young cricket fanatic has to stump up a hefty sum to join the local team.
Sendhil Ramamurthy and Tusshar Kapoor star.

Venue: Mall of the Emirates; 12.15pm; Dh25

COPACABANA
France

Set in Belgium, Isabelle Huppert shines in this unusual role as Babou, an eccentric woman whose love of exuberant Brazilian music is at odds with the straitlaced dullness of Belgium. Her daughter Esmerelda (Lolita Chammas) is quite the opposite, dissolving into a lather of embarrassment whenever her mother‘s around.

Matters come to a head when Esmerelda forbids her mother to attend her imminent thoroughly conventional wedding to a rather dull executive type.Devastated and determined to win Esmerelda over, Babou flees to the grim northern city of Ostend where she learns some funny lessons in life.

Venue: First Group Theatre; 6pm; Dh25, Sunday December 19

THE RED EAGLE
Thailand

This is a long-awaited reboot of the 1960s Thai superhero franchise, originally starring Mitr Chaibancha (who died in an on-set accident on the final original “Red Eagle” film).

Revived by acclaimed director Wisit Sasanatieng, and casting Ananda Everingham in the title role, a nuclear power plant is about to be commissioned, a symptom of the power held by corrupt and power-hungry politicians.

The citizens are furiously opposed to the scheme, but are powerless. Then in response, the superhero appears, but has to face off arch-nemesis, The Black Devil.

Venue: Mall of the Emirates; 12.15pm; Dh25

PEGASUS
Morocco

Rihana is a young girl who finds herself in a psychiatric hospital following a traumatic experience. She is convinced that she was raped and impregnated by a young man from her village called Zayd.

Rihana also believes her pregnancy was blessed by the Lord of the Horse, a spirit who figures prominently in the superstitious fairytales told by her father. Zineb, the psychiatrist handling Rihana’s case, is tasked with unravelling the mystery behind her behaviour.

Venue: Mall of the Emirates; 12pm; Dh25

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