Listed are the 5 of the very best movies we saw at the Dubai Film Festival 2008, which may have come to a rousing conclusion, but that only means the countdown to next year’s event has already begun.

#1
The Wrestler
Darren Aronofsky | USA | 2008
109 min

This devastating film — the best at the Dubai film festival — about washed-up wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson, features a central performance of astonishing sincerity and charisma by Mickey Rourke, whose own real life mirrors that of his tragic onscreen character. Director Darren Aronofsky exercises uncharacteristic visual restraint and draws out powerful performances that may move you to tears.

#2
Che
Steven Soderberg | USA | 2008
262 min

Che is a tour-de-force of storytelling and filmmaking. The movie, which will be distributed in two parts — Argentine and Guerrilla — was shown as one film at DIFF, separated only by a fifteen-minute break. Both films work perfectly as halves, complementing each other; the first is focused on Ernesto “Che” Guevara’s electrifying campaign to seize Cuba for Fidel Castro while the second documents his unsuccessful Bolivia campaign that ended with his execution. Benicio Del Toro gives one of the year’s most memorable performances in a film that is an anti-biopic, a war movie and a compelling docudrama all rolled into one.

#3
Hunger
Steve McQueen | UK/Ireland | 2008
96 min

This remarkable debut film from director Steve McQueen is both visually arresting and thematically engrossing. About the hunger strike of IRA republican Bobby Sands that ended in his death, it is an unflinching recreation of Sands’ political and personal ideology which you may or may not agree with, but it is hard to deny this man’s steely dedication to his principles. In a film of raw, silent power (there is very little dialogue) the most memorable segment is a 17-minute long conversation between Sands and a priest, filmed from an unmoving camera, placed at vantage point, that makes you want to stand up and applaud. Hunger is an exquisitely crafted film containing a clever, multilayered script, and a compelling lead performance by Michael Fassbender who starved himself for his role.

#4
Song of Sparrows (Avaze Gonjeshk-ha)
Majid Majidi | Iran | 2008
96 min

Is it any surprise that one of the best films of the fest was from Iranian auteur Majid Majidi? Dreary film themes are the hallmark of any film festival, so how refreshing to have Song for Sparrows, a film with so much love for life. Combining good old fashioned storytelling and beautiful imagery, it made us smile, and broke through our fortified wall of cynicism. Full of spirituality, Song for Sparrows is also a study on capitalism and the effect of selfishly accumulating material wealth.

#5
Vacation (Kyûka)
Hajime Kadoi | Japan | 2008
112 min

The biggest surprise at DIFF, Vacation studies, in excruciating detail, the last days of a prisoner on death row in Japan, and how this affects both the condemned and his executioners. It is a meticulously crafted chamber drama with unexpected deadpan humor that provides a counterbalance to the dour subject matter. The performances are uniformly excellent, but it is the depth of the director’s convictions and the precision of skill that makes Vacation absolutely riveting.

Because WearetheMovies.com loves lists (and admit it, so do you) it would have been unfair to highlight only 5 films, especially when we’ve seen so many — so, if nothing else, for that reason alone, we’ve added a sort of an encore to our first five selections. Here are other notable films that just missed our Top 5 list:

Biggest Crowd Pleaser

Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle | UK | 2008
120 min

Made with electrifying energy and effortless in its navigation of deep pits of despair, one could say Slumdog Millionaire almost earns its happy ending. A must-see for fans of the versatile director Danny Boyle.

Most Polarizing Films

Blindness
Fernando Meirelles | Canada/Brazil | 2008
120 min

A grim look at human nature during a blindness epidemic. Based on a novel by Nobel Prize-winning Portuguese author José Saramago, Blindness will provoke you as it uses literal blindness to depict humans’ moral blindness. Memorable for the debates that will follow; some of you will call it cruel, others clever.

Ballast
Lance Hammer | USA | 2008
96 min

An intense and emotional drama from first-time director Lance Hammer, Ballast keeps its secrets close to the chest, revealing them in small bursts that only later form a complete picture. Moody and contemplative, a film that will reward only the very patient viewer.

Best Films Even We Had Never Heard About

Adhen – Dernier Maquis
Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche | France | 2008
93 min

Algerian-French filmmaker Rabah Ameur-Zaïmeche creates a sophisticated visual and aural experience in a film that presents the absurdities of religion, capitalism and human nature. The most intellectually stimulating film of the 2008 Dubai film festival.

3 Monkeys (Uc Maymun)
Nuri Bilge Ceylan | Turkey | 2008
109 min

Another visually arresting film from Turkish auteur Nuri Bilge Ceylan (who makes full use of the digital cinematography), that may also be described as Crime and Punishment- lite.

The results were polled by Faizan Rashid, John Murdoch, Kamal Tolani, Shariq Madani and MADali.

A few these films may not screen again, but others have second or even third shows lined up (at the time of writing) before the festival’s conclusion on the evening of Thursday, 18th December 2008. We will be revisiting this shortlist again after the festival, to compile a complete WearetheMovies Best Films of DIFF 2008 list. Until then, here are films that we have loved wholeheartedly so far, in no particular order of preference:

The Wrestler
Darren Aronofsky | USA | 2008
109 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnO1oQk2_w

A devastating film about washed-up wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson played with astonishing sincerity and charisma by Mickey Rourke, whose own real life mirrors that of his tragic onscreen character. Director Darren Aronofsky exercises uncharacteristic visual restraint and draws out powerful performances that may move you to tears.

Che
Steven Soderberg | USA | 2008
262 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqTw2dtVQzw

Steven Soderberg’s Che is a tour-de-force of storytelling. The film which will be distributed in two parts — Argentine and Guerilla — is being shown as one film at DIFF, just as it was at Cannes. Both halves work perfectly to complement each other: the first focuses on the electrifying campaign to seize Cuba for Fidel Castro while the second documents Che’s unsuccessful Bolivia campaign which ended with his execution. Benicio Del Toro gives one of the year’s best performances.

Vacation (Kyûka)
Hajime Kadoi | Japan | 2008
112 min

One of the big surprises at DIFF, Vacation (Kyûka) studies in excruciating detail the process of executing a condemned prisoner in Japan, and how this affects both the accused and his executioners. A meticulously crafted chamber drama that delighted us with unexpected deadpan humor.

Ballast
Lance Hammer | USA | 2008
96 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1lOiy3j-K0

Ballast keeps its secrets close to the chest, revealing them in small bursts that only later form a complete picture. Moody and contemplative, and perhaps not for all tastes, it is director Lance Hammer’s debut film and will reward only the very patient viewer.

To buy tickets visit www.difftickets.com or call them at +9714-3913378

For Dubai residents and tourists, the word “festival” conjures up images of many different things, not the least of which is sale blowouts and overflowing shopping carts. But in the month of December, this same word can mean something entirely different; the last month of the year is not just the time for Christmas-giving or Eid joy, or even a signaling of the end of the current year, but a month when casual movie goers and connoisseurs alike can freely indulge in that rare cultural phenomenon in the Middle East called a “film festival.”  (Our film selections and trailers await you after the jump.)

The fifth year of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) has an assortment of over 180 feature films, documentaries and shorts, a daunting portfolio of selections for anyone not keeping a close eye on the international festival circuit — but then that’s what we’re here for!

After a painstaking selection process (tallying and sub-tallying, arguments and counter-arguments), our team of crackpot movie lovers have short-listed what we think are the most essential, must-see movies of this year’s Dubai film festival.

3 Monkeys (Üç maymun)
Nuri Bilge Ceylan | Turkey | 2008
109 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wBznN7c8YE

This film from Turkey won the Best Director award at Cannes this year, and is also the country’s official submission for Best Foreign Film at Oscars 2009. If last year’s phenomenal The Edge of Heaven was any indication, then it seems the Turkish continue their streak of visual metaphor and lyrical storytelling in 3 Monkeys (Üç maymun), an engrossing film about complicated family situations. Not to be confused with Terry Gilliam’s ground-breaking 12 Monkeys, also playing at the festival.

Che
Steven Soderbergh | USA | 2008
262 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqTw2dtVQzw

When was the last time you spent two hours watching a film? How about three hours? No big deal say you, fans of films from the Subcontinent? Well, then, how about four hours? Steven Soderberg’s Che, an all-encompassing biopic about the revolutionary Cuban leader (also, the very recognizable face on hipsters’ t-shirts), clocks in at close to four-and-a-half hours. When released conventionally, it is likely that Che will be split into two films — The Argentine and Guerilla — but in a commendable move, DIFF will screen it as one film; we are fortunate enough to be able see it as Soderbergh intended, in its entirety. Already acclaimed for its titular performance (Benicio Del Toro won unanimous praise and the Best Actor award at this year’s Cannes), Che should actually be listed under unmissable.

Genova
Michael Winterbottom | UK | 2008
108 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giQBAphohO4

British director Michael Winterbottom is no stranger to DIFF — his moving In This World played here during the first edition of the festival and his films have often dealt with topics that delve into the unglamorous side of living, but Genova returns him to his more traditional European roots in a story that seems part inspired by Nicolas Roeg’s frightening Don’t Look Now. Here too is a family coping with a loss and moving to an Italian town to deal with the aftermath. Expect another fierce performance from Colin Firth who as a grieving father has to come to terms with raising daughters without their mother…and then there’s this pesky business of seeing ghosts.

Gomorra
Matteo Garrone | Italy | 2008
135 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeuLCXwvOgw

This highly acclaimed Italian film was a big find at Cannes 2008, winning numerous awards  there and at other festivals subsequently. A tell-all crime film about the Camorra, an organized crime syndicate, its realism has forced the author of the book, on which the film is based, into permanent hiding for fear of retribution from those he’s blown the whistle on. Expect a riveting saga of a little-known, but vastly dangerous criminal underworld of Naples, Italy.

Hunger
Steve McQueen | UK | 2008
96 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmVPCX0LxN8

Tracing an event of historical British significance is Hunger which recounts the last six weeks of hunger strike by Irish Republican Bobby Sands. The subject matter is grim yet intriguing; and it is probably curiosity of how much the film achieves that will drive many to watch it. Hunger has won almost universal acclaim for its lead actor, Michael Fassbender, and a slew of British Independent Film Awards.

Slumdog Millionaire
Danny Boyle | UK | 2008
120 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRbXSMghoss

In a setup that is almost tailor-made for the multi-ethnic audiences of DIFF, electrifying director Danny Boyle (forever cherished for his work in famed modern classics Trainspotting and 28 days Later) presents the story of a boy from the slums of Mumbai, who rises to become a star on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. Supposedly, it is part love story, part energetic India travelogue by way of Bollywood, and an unabashedly feel-good crowd pleaser!

The Song of Sparrows (Avaze Gonjeshk-ha)
Majid Majidi | Iran | 2008
96 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD8OqU8Jvuw

Iranian cinema is unique. Their societal norms prevent their filmmakers from being as open as their counterparts in the rest of their world; but it is this very same challenge that makes films so fascinating to watch. Their love affair with neo-realism continues with this morality tale of a farmer who has to capture an Ostrich that escapes from the farm. Song of Sparrows is directed by famed Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi, whose film Children of Heaven was the first (and only) Iranian film to be nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar. If that wasn’t enough of a reason for you to prioritize a screening, we’ll give you another one: The Song of Sparrows also won its lead actor a Silver Bear at Berlin this year.

The Chaser (Choo Gyeok Ja)
Hong-jin Na | South Korea | 2008
123 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkqczsLZd1I

South Korean films have been enjoying popularity abroad for many years with their raw, gritty and, generally, singular take on what a cinema experience should be like. If you’ve seen films such as OIdboy or The HostThe Chaser (which played at DIFF a couple of years ago), then you know exactly what to expect, or not to expect, from a Korean film about a pimp searching for his missing girls. And if you’ve never experienced Korean cinema, is arguably the best way to make an introduction.

The Class (Entre Les Murs)
Laurent Cantent | France | 2008
128 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pSHMZN2DrU

Hailed for its realistic, dogme-like look at public schools in France attended by impoverished children, “The Class” took home the coveted Palm D’or award at this year’s Cannes film festival. If recent winners are any indication (last year’s 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days; The Wind That Shakes The Barley the previous year, both excellent films), then this is a film that should not be given a pass.

The Wrestler
Darren Aronofsky | USA | 2008
105 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGnO1oQk2_w

You don’t look for “why” when going for a Darren Aronofsky film; you just need to find out “where” and “when.” The Wrestler is the first-ever Aronofsky film to be officially screened on any big screen either at Dubai generally or at DIFF specifically. Anyone who has ever seen an Aronofsky film (The Fountain, Requiem For A Dream) knows that this hard-hitting director never pulls the punches. Expect a visceral experience and another great score by regular composer Clint Mansell. Winner of the coveted Golden Lion at this year’s Venice film festival.

3 Honorable Mentions:

Owing to the overwhelming number of titles this year, it seems unfair that we should restrict a list to only 10 films. These were a few of the films that didn’t make it into the WearetheMovies.com Top 10 selections, but deserve their own special section.

Blindness
Fernando Meirelles | Canada, Brazil, Japan | 2008
121 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTivdzpDqP0

Apocalyptic futures are always a hit with the masses. Blindness takes just such a bleak point of view, but it’s got an ace in the hole with director Fernando Meirelles,  whose perfect body of work (City of God, The Constant Gardener) cries out for your attention. Tech geeks and aspiring cinematographers, make note that DP Cesar Charlone used three different film formats: Super 16mm, Super 35mm in 1.85:1 aspect ratio, and eight-perf VistaVision, a horizontal format that results in an image area about two-and-a-half times the size of a 35mm frame.

Ride the Wave, Johnny (Tera Kya Hoga, Johnny!)
Sudhir Mishra | India | 2008
120 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMBaZTBQ43M

Director Sudhir Mishra has always been a popular alternative to the colorful vibrancy of Bollywood to warrant a watch anytime. His successful mix of casting recognizable actors in off-beat stories has always worked in the past, be it in films as diverse as Khoya Khoya Chand, Chameli, Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi or Is Raat Ki Subah Nahin. This time round, Mishra explores another facet of his favorite subject: the harsh life of a child trying to survive on the mean streets of Mumbai.

Tokyo Sonata
Kiyoshi Kurosawa | Japan | 2008
119 min

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsRNft84Ks0

In a time of financial uncertainty and economic gloom, this Japanese film, about a man who loses his job and tries to cope with it by pretending to lead a normal life in front of his family, should be a stirring viewing. Winner of the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes.

To buy tickets visit www.difftickets.com or call them at +9714-3913378