‘City of Life’ Releases On DVD

UAE’s first high profile local production premiered at DIFF last year and pleasantly surprised me at how well-made it really was, especially from a newcomer. ‘City of Life’ is a striking look at the city of Dubai with themes that will relate to a broad audience (our review here). And now the movie is out on DVD after a successful theatrical run.

Three lives. One city. A destiny that binds them together. City Of Life is the FIRST film, produced and solely shot in the United Arab Emirates, and directed by an Emirati – Ali F. Mostafa. The central plot revolves around three parallel lives, amongst many cultures in one city, namely Dubai, thus highlighting the city’s vast cultural and ethnic diversity.

A privileged young male Arab at odds with his cultural identity and his less fortunate street smart friend; a disillusioned Indian taxi driver who bears an uncanny resemblance to a famous Bollywood star; and a former Romanian ballet dancer now working as a flight attendant and searching for love and companionship … these individuals all live in Dubai and their lives are about to collide for better or for worse in a city where ambition, growth and opportunity are encouraged and dreams can still manifest.

“City of Life” is an urban Drama that tracks the various intersections of a multi-ethnic cast, examining how random interactions and their consequences can irrevocably impact another’s life. As the name suggests, City of Life’s inordinately humane kaleidoscope of converging experiences introduces a city that is in itself a living pulsating character. “City of Life” ultimately reveals how unexpected tragedy and loss can lead to hope and profound transformation as it explores and exposes the complex network that exists in an emerging multi cultural society’s race, ethnicity and class divide.

Combining a fresh mix of local and international talent, City Of Life was premiered at the Dubai International Film Festival 2009 and featured in several International Film Festivals, thus putting Dubai and Emirati talent on the global film map!

You can order the DVD from the Website itself. There’s a 2-Disc Special Edition with the Director’s Cut on it along with a host of special features, so it’s something that fans of the movie will cherish.

There’s also a DVD signing going on at Mall of the Emirates on December 15th at Virgin Megastores and the details of the event can be found here.