Dubai

city of life

If anyone is intrigued about life in this region, the dramatic film, City of Life written and directed by Ali F. Mustafa is worth the watch. Set in all the glitter, glamour, desperation, and diversity of the city of Dubai, this film follows the lives of three individuals: Faisal is a rich Emirati with little direction and mostly confusion in his life; Basu is an Indian taxi driver dreaming of being a Bollywood star; and Natalia is a Romanian woman who wants to earn a stable living and find love. Their paths interweave throughout the multiple storylines and ultimately come together in a way that drastically impacts each of their respective lives. In a city where social and class divisions remain strong, this film plays with such boundaries to illustrate their illusion and emptiness. Amidst gleaming high-rises and luxury hotels, the film also (though only slight) touches upon the harsh conditions of migrant workers invisible to many of residents of this populous city as well as the constant clash between modern advances and older traditions. Of course not everything can be tackled in one film; complex issues surrounding gender roles are not directly addressed, but again somewhat softly touched.

Yes, the storylines are relatively simple, if not at times predictable, however it was refreshing to see content reflecting life in this part of the world on the big screen. City of Life is the first feature film shot and set in Dubai. Evidently, not all cities in this region have developed in the unique way that Dubai has over the past decade or so, though what is portrayed definitely touches upon some of the issues and circumstances that I’ve witnessed even in my short time in the still young Doha. Immeasurable wealth, fast cars and extravagance. Racial inequalities. Inter-generational disputes and changes. Massive industrial growth. Traditional culture crisis. Gender roles. Ex-pat lifestyles. Emptiness, instability, desperation. Chasing dreams, succeeding and failing. Hope, settlement and survival. Overall, sadness prevailed in much of the story lines and at times, happiness seemed almost just as much of an illusion as the social boundaries.

The film is well shot; the cinematography is clean and crisp and exudes vibrancy. The film moves with a pulse that mirrors the pace of the city itself.

View the trailer here: http://www.cityoflifefilm.com/ (… though, quite a bit of the film is revealed!)

Unfortunately, I don’t think this film has North American theatrical distribution (actually I’m sure of it). It would have been a great film to recommend to anyone curious for a (albeit fictitious) glimpse of life in a Dubai, a pivotal city in the Gulf.