City of Life premieres at DIFF
The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is upon us again with a wide variety of international feature films, shorts, and documentaries making their premieres. But, it’s a local film called City of Life which is the most eagerly anticipated at this year’s festival.
Written, produced, and directed by Ali F. Mostafa, a UAE national born to an Emirati father and a British mother, the film explores the lives of three individuals in Dubai’s society. A privileged Emirati male (Saoud Al Ka’abi), a less fortunate and disillusioned Indian taxi driver (Sonu Sood), and a western woman’s (Alexandra Maria Lara) lives collide bringing not only three individuals, but three different cultures together, for better or for worse.
It’s a revealing depiction of Dubai’s vast network of cultures and ethnicities, as well as, how random interactions and their consequences can irrevocably impact another’s life.
The movie transports you step-by-step into the lives of the characters, and their separate yet intertwined storyline. The mood, scenery, and even the language are different as the story moves from one character to the next which help maintain realism and keep the viewer focused.
City of Life is the first multi-lingual feature film to be written, produced and directed by an Emirati with UAE funding. It’s a first big step in what will hopefully become a stream of locally produced original feature films for the international market.
We’re really looking forward to this one.
You can read more about the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) 2009 line-up. Call the festival call center at +97143913378 or check difftickets for ticketing and more information.
Cast: Alexandria Maria Lara, Sonu Sood, Saoud Al Ka’abi, Yassin AlSalman, Jason Flemyng, Natalie Dormer, Ahmed Ahmed, Habib Ghuloom, Javed Jaffry
Genre: Drama
Rating: N/A
Duration: 97 minutes
When and Where at DIFF: 11 December, at 8 PM; 13 December, at 4 PM
Official Website
