City of Life....a sad but beautiful journey

Ever since I heard the buzz surrounding the first ever full length Emarati Film at the 2009 Dubai International Film Festival, I got myself on a mission to watch it. The Movie "Dar al 7ay" or 'City of Life' is directed by Ali F. Mostafa, A london Film School Graduate whose resume includes some local ads and a short movie called "Under the Sun"

Last week I finally watched the movie after months of skipping on exclusive screenings or film festivals all courtesy of my busy schedule and I must say it was worth the wait.

The movie tells three different stories belonging to three different individuals from different backgrounds and different paths of life all living in the city of Dubai. Their lives collide in a moment that changes everything forever. The de-glamourised Dubai and what it hides behind its sky scrapers is the journey this movies promises you to take on.

As a first timer for a full length movie, Mr. Mostafa proves to be a pro rather than an amateur, his techniques in filming allows people who even know Dubai the most go on a special expedition through his lens.

As for a personal opinion, the movie was more of a reality to people like me rather than a story that needs to be seen....maybe the expatriate stories are a bit foreign to me, but I'm sure the character played by Saood Al Kaabi and his friend Iraqi-Canadian Rapper The Narcissist should strike a chord with 98% of the Emarati households.

The sad reality of how the male youth acts in our society is very boldly presented in the movie, and I haven't met one person who was the personification of Saood's character and actually lives that life style, likes the movie. They usually go, well not all Emaratis are like that. YES, not all of them are like that but you are, so why don't you start with yourself and become one of the "Not all of them are like that" category.

One more thing which saddened me during my time at the movie, was how hysterically some of the boys were laughing at some of the most intense scenes of the movie....how can you get the massage across if that doesn't tell you that this lifestyle that you're living is eventually going to lead to self-distruct? How can you fix these big messes? Can they even be fixed?

I did object to some of the scenes though where there was some skin show or some sort of display of affection, I could've seen it without those parts baring in mind that it is an Emarati product and it has to have some sort of conservative restrictions attached to it, but I guess this was done in order for it to have a more global appeal as they are planning to release it overseas as well.

None the less the movie is turning point in the Emarati film making industry, and Even for all the Arab cinema fraternity as I think Ali has raised the bar for all the movies ever to come out of this region.

Dubai lover, Dubai haters, UAE Lovers, UAE Haters...EVERYONE should go watch this movie and see no matter how different we are and no matter how different our problems may be, the pain and the agony of the human spirit will still remain the same....

Mr. Mostafa has done us all proud....