On Borrowed Time

Even with Dubai’s towering Burj Khalifa dominating the skyline outside their windows, life in a retirement home isn’t very exciting for the “Four Musketeers”: ex-soldier Fares, upbeat astrologer Hasan, retired pharmacist Abdullah, and wheelchair-bound Hamad. This quartet of variously afflicted grumpy old men spend their days grumbling about uncaring children, swapping medications, acting as matchmakers for the local staff, and watching movies they’ve seen before (because they can’t remember the endings). What they don’t do is adhere to Hasan’s carpe diem philosophy urging them to squeeze the best out of their dwindling time on earth. Until, that is, Fares receives a 50 million dirham (nearly $14 million) windfall, courtesy of a deceased nephew. (Palm Springs International Film Festival)