Dubai: The City of Life

‘City of Life’ is a poignant film portraying three very different lives. A directional debut by Emirati born Ali F. Mostafa, this short film is not just based in Dubai, but is about Dubai. Mostafa has managed to transform Dubai from a backdrop to his plot to a character in itself. City of Life shows us Dubai’s many faces; the opulence of a rich Emirati home, the adrenalin rush of its nightlife, and the heat and dust of its busy, bustling streets.

Dubai is a melting pot of cultures, and Mostafa gives us a taste of this by using three parallel storylines focusing on three different socio-ethnic backgrounds. We meet a young Emirati from an affluent family, and learn power and money does not guarantee happiness. This young man would rather be out about town with his street-smart friend than under the scrutiny of his overpowering father. We meet a young Russian flight attendant looking for love, and see a fairytale go sour. And we meet an Indian taxi driver who has an uncanny resemblance to a Bollywood star and dares to dream big despite his social and financial limitations. Mostafa makes good use of Dubai’s social stereotypes. These might be a little lost on someone who has never lived in the UAE, but the characters are strong enough to leave an impression.

I hope Mostafa does a remake of ‘City of Life’ and explores new storylines. If it were up to me, I would showcase a ‘Jumeirah Jane’, a trophy wife of a highly successful Indian expatriate whose life revolves around socializing and keeping face. My other characters would be a Filipino maid and a Pathan laborer as I feel these are lives less explored by the media, yet newspaper reports give us the dirty picture on their unfortunate living conditions. I also came across a very entertaining blog recently that follows the life of a Filipino maid working in Dubai. Dubai Sally has a strong blog following, and has also come under scrutiny on whether she actually exists or is a clever work of fictioin.

Overall, I would not recommend ‘City of Life’ as an introduction to Dubai. Many issues uncovered in the film are morbid, and the subtleties of the subject matter and how it links to the city may be lost to an outsider. However, it is a beautifully made film and can be considered a masterpiece for those who live in the UAE and have a firsthand experience with the city of life.   

-     Big Sis.