Selecting the top 15 films of the year (of films that were released in South Africa) is never an easy choice. Choice is subjective, but subjectivity should at least be measured objectively. How is that possible? In selecting the top films, 98% of all films released on circuit were viewed. What makes the 15 films unique out of all the other films that were released? They were all stories well told. Stories that were told visually on a vast canvas, and managed to cause a meaningful change through its execution. They are all so different but united by a specific goal: to bring drama to life in a spectacular and entertaining way, stimulating the mind and evoking passion. All these films are stories that deal with a specific culture in a universal way; transporting the audience to unimaginable worlds and introducing us to the most fantastic (no matter how evil) characters. These are stories we care about. Stories we want to share with those we care about. Stories we would like to tell if we had the extraordinary power these filmmakers have - Daniel E. Dercksen.

1   lord of the rings: the return of the king
      It is difficult to imagine that the magnificence of Fellowship and opulence of Two Towers   
      could be equalled; Return of the King surpasses all preconceptions and pushes the   
      boundaries of what we have experienced before.  Jackson is daring in his approach; his
      powerful mindscape is brought to life on a vast canvas of sound and image,  painted in
      rich, vivid colours.  The art of Jackson's creation lies in his ability to transport us to the
      outskirts of our imagination; he takes our pre-conception and runs it through a blender,
      giving us a delightfully fresh mixture that stimulates the mind and satisfies our appetite for   
      spectacular entertainment.  If you can, as a filmmaker and storyteller, afford an audience
      the luxury to escape from their ordinary, mundane existence,  and empower them to
      discover an extraordinary journey of the soul and heart, you are a true king; Jackson rules
      the kingdom of the imagination with this touching and endearing masterpiece. The Return
      of the King speaks a universal language. We leave the cinema with more than just magic
      in our heads; in this mythical fantasy world we have re-discovered our humanity and learnt
      that we have to embrace our differences to grow as human beings and be fulfilled.
      Go behind the scenes of Return of the King
2   the hours
      Stephen Daldry's The Hours has a hushed complexity that celebrates life through death
      and will appeal to brainy cinephiles who are passionate about dramatic intensity. Daldry
      tells his story in the traditional way - only once does he break away from the constructed
      realism to flood the story with surreal expressionism … The ticking of a clock, the noise of
      traffic, the flowing of river, and quiet moments set the pace in The Hours and the
      emotions are perfectly underscored by Philip Glass' monumental haunting musical
      soundtrack. We also view the contrast of three different time periods: the tranquil twenties
      in England, the deceitfulness of post World War II suburbia in America, and the
      franticness of contemporary society. These divergent periods are reflected in the single
      day of three comparable women … we are reminded that life is not about the obvious, but
      the understated, the wasted hours that lie hidden between the moments that are fondly
      remembered. An absolute masterpiece in every sense of the word. Go behind the scenes
3   chicago
      At last Broadway has found its home on the big screen in this stunning and breathtaking   
      adaptation of Kander and Ebb's sensational musical.  Musicals have always been difficult
      to translate to film.  Choreographer Rob Marshall seems to have found a magic formula in
      his directorial debut that unites two disparate worlds. He captivates his audience with
      brilliant visual exposition and challenges them with a daring and innovative style. 
      Marshall proves that you do not need elaborate digital or special effects to captivate the
      audience. Utilising space to its maximum - with outstanding art direction, brilliant lighting
      design, pacy editing, and awesome cinematography - each frame sizzles with vibrant
      action. The audience is seduces into an almost sedative comfort zone. Even if you're not   
      a fan of musicals, you will leave the cinema with a different understanding and full
      appreciation of an art form that celebrates life and offers absolute escapism.
      Go Behind the scenes
4   the ring
      Spawned during an age of imitation and executed during a time of replication, The Ring
      does what few films of the horror genre do: it is guaranteed to scare the living hell out of
      you. The imagination has hardly ever been stretched this far or challenged so severely.
      Laced with supernatural overtones, The Ring will definitely not go unnoticed and be the
      topic of many discussions. Although there are shocking moments of true horror, Verbinski
      focuses on the psychological landscape that causes the torment. He allows his audience
      to question the mysterious events, confront the obstacles, and presents them with a
      meaningful resolution at the end of the story.  If you are not fond of horror due to the
      overkill the past few years, The Ring will seduce you back into the realm of suspense. For
      once, it is good to be scared. Go behind the scenes
5   city of god
      One of the must see films of the year. An unforgettable cinematic experience that
      captivates and shocks without ever being patronising or sensationalistic. Brazilian
      filmmaker Fernando Meirelles takes us back to the 1960s through the 1970s to the City of
      God, a township near Rio. We follow the story Rocket and Li'l Dice: Rocket is a poor black
      kid too frail and scared to become an outlaw and discovers he can see the reality with a
      different eye:  the eye of an artist; Li'l Dice dreams of being Rio de Janeiro's most
      dangerous criminal; his wicked nature becomes evident from early on in life; he runs
      errands for the local outlaws and when he gets the opportunity to kill for the first time he
      continues to kill as he grows up. Go behind the scenes
6   adaptation
      What makes a film truly original is distinctive choices of subject matter plus a unique
      shaping of the telling. Director Spike Jonze and screenwriter Charlie Kaufman share an
      exceptional vision; they dissect the world of creators and allow audiences to have an
      intimate relationship with those who create. Their story is visualised in a particular style
      where fact and fiction merge to challenge and captivate. The potent imagination of the
      filmmaker draws the audience into a remarkable experience; once we have adapted to the
      intriguing premise it is difficult to separate truth from fiction. This is what filmmaking is all
      about and where the power of cinema lies; it suspends disbelief and takes the audience of
      a journey of self discovery. Once in a while a film comes along that sweeps you off your
      feet. Adaptation. is such a unique creation, brimming with a freshness that is unsurpassed.
      Go behind the scenes
7   sea biscuit
      From director Gary Ross ('Pleasantville') comes this outstanding true story that is indeed
      one of the best films of the year and recommended viewing for anyone with a heart. It tells
      the unusual story of how a worn-out race horse (named Sea Biscuit) drastically changes
      the lives of three men and restores their faith in life and living. It is also the story of three
      lost men, featuring outstanding performances from Jeff Bridges as the millionaire who
      loses everything; Toby Maguire as a young jockey whose spirit has been broken; and
      Chris Cooper as a cowboy whose world is vanishing. It is one of those rare films that will
      alter your perception of the world and focus your attention on important little things that
      makes the world go round. Go behind the scenes
8   in america
      Jim Sheridan's exceptional film is an incredible journey into the hearts of an Irish family
      who re-discover their real identity and familyhood when they try to settle down in America.
      It is a tearful journey, so be warned, filled with drama, passion, humour and
      understanding. The performances of the entire cast are exceptional, particularly Djimon
      Hounsou ('Gladiator'). Oscar is going to hopefully like this one and bestow it with the
      attention it deserves. Go behind the scenes
9   swimming upstream
      From Down Under comes this touching and heart-warming story of a troubled family
      during the 50's in Brisbane, Australia. Based on the true story of champion swimmer Tony
      Fingleton, the screenplay was written by real-life Anthony Fingleton, with Russell Mulcahy
      (Highlander, Razorback) in the director's chair. Mulcahy's unique style surfaces when the
      narrative explores the inner turmoil of a young man who is the black sheep of the family
      and tries to win the love of his father. Abstract introspection is infused with realism and
      blended with documentary footage, challenging the perception of the audience. The world
      of swimming and becoming a champion interweaves with the story of brothers who are
      pitted against each other, the effect alcohol has on a family, and the lengths we will go to
      prove our humanity. Go behind the scenes
10 love actually
      For writer-director Richard Curtis "there seems to me to be more truth to that than
      something that's called a searingly realistic drama, because all over the world, every
      minute of  every day, people are falling in love.  I say that no matter how dark the world
      gets, the actual texture of life has a lot to do with love." Whether you have failed or
      succeeded in love; whether you are young or old in experiencing love; whether you are
      living alone or in a relationship; Love Actually is a film that speaks to everyone and
      embraces the universal qualities  that bridges the differences that cause so much pain and
      violence in the world. We need more films like this to make us laugh and weep at the
      realisation that love does indeed make the world spin round. Go behind the scenes
11 behind the sun
      An outstanding drama from Walter Salles, who directed the excellent 'Central Station',
      and reteams with producer Arthur Cohn and cinematographer Walter Carvalho. Beautifully
      lensed, with superb direction and first class performances, the harrowing tale is set in
      Brazil and was adapted by Salles and co-writers Sergio Nachado and Karin Ainouz from
      Ismail Kadare's acclaimed novel 'Broken April'. It tells the touching story of two brothers
      who are imprisoned by a blood feud between their family and their neighbours over
      ownership of a sugar plantation. The film deals with the destructive nature of violence as it
      erodes the heart and spirit of men,  and the search for hope and peace when one young
      man and his brother find the courage to try and break the cycle. Set in the desert
      landscape of the Brazilian badlands, the story focuses on the Breves family whose son
      Tonio (Rodrigo Santoro) Is next in line to avenge his family's honor. It is a truly moving
      and rewarding cinematic experience. Go behind the scenes
12 red dragon
      In understanding the most important function of a filmmaker - to break through the barrier
      of awareness and provide a new perception - Red Dragon successfully unfolds in all its
      glorious technicolour splendour, obliterating what we know and offering fresh,
      invigorating entertainment. The facts are meticulously dissected and translated into a
      brilliant narrative by screenwriter Ted Tally (who was awarded an Oscar for his
      outstanding adaptation of Silence of the Lambs).Filmmakers blow our fears up into larger
      than life spectacle on the big screen. Filmmakers such as Ratner, Shayamalan and Ridley
      Scott, and writers the likes of Thomas Harris and Ted Tally, afford us the opportunity to
      not gain an empathetic understanding, but apprehend that we have to acknowledge and
      befriend the trepidation that breeds fear. Red Dragon is an exceptional psycho-drama that
      does not take advantage of its audience. It is never patronising and superbly explores a
      dark, horrific world, offering suspenseful and rewarding entertainment.
      Go behind the scenes
13 the pianist
      In contrast to Steven Spielberg's clinical perfection of Schindler's List and the dark satire
      of Life Is Beautiful, Roman Polanski's vision of the holocaust is brutally honest and laced
      with irony. Set in Warsaw during the occupation of the Nazis, death becomes a way of life
      for a Jewish Polish pianist. Based on the novel by Wladyslaw Szpilman, with a screenplay
      by Ronald Harwood, this is 148 minutes of cinema at its purest. Sensitive viewers must be
      warned that there are scenes that will be upsetting. Polanski does not coat the tragedy
      with visual dynamics but allows his camera to capture the horror of war, and the
      destruction of humanity. Go behind the scenes
14 far from heaven
      Writer-director Todd Hayes seduced audiences with his expose on the 1970s glam rock in
      Velvet Goldmine. Here, he plunges us into the picture-perfect world of the 1950s, where a
      perfect American couple (Julianne Moore and Dennis Quaid) discover that perfect love is
      Far From Heaven. Hayes crafts a superb rendition of era where appearances meant
      everything  - including a plush music score by Elmor Bernstein. This idealistic existence
      crumbles when racism and homophobia raises its head and destroys the harmony. Moore
      is wonderful as a 50s social butterfly and has an innocence that removes her from the
      reality that captivates her. Quiad is equally impressive as the hardworking husband and
      father who discovers that he will never be able to be the man they want him to be.
      Go behind the scenes
15 brotherhood of the wolf
      Not since Patrice Chereau's La Reine Margot (Queen Margot) has there been a French
      film that is as brutal, sexy and seductive at Cristophe Gans' exquisitely crafted Le Pacte
      des Loups (Brotherhood of the Wolf). The film has an immense sensuality in lust and
      bereavement; the romantic liaisons seduces with its richness, and even a scene of intense
      mourning is sensually underscored. The sensuality beautifully wraps the horrific subject
      matter in silk, constantly provoking the audience and evoking a sense of mysticism.
      Brotherhood of the Wolf is daring and innovative; few filmmakers would dare to fuse
      different styles,  genres and cultures with such passion. Classic, contemporary, traditional
      and futuristic elements are superbly interwoven to challenge and entertain; the dramatic
      narrative intrigues up to the last frame, and the grandiose spectacle makes this one of the
      most enjoyable films to indulge in. Like rich French cuisine, you will savour each moment
      and return for seconds. Read the review       

The highs and lows of 2003