City of Life is a 2009 multilingual Emirati film written, directed, and produced by Ali F. Mostafa

Ali Mustafa

Ali F. Mustafa is a British-Emirati filmmaker, director and producer who is credited as the director of the first Emirati feature-film City of Life. Born in 1981, Mustafa received wide acclaim for his debut in filmmaking; he has been branded as "Best Emirati Filmmaker" in the Dubai International...

. Set in the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...

, the film revolves around three parallel lives, amongst many cultures in one city, namely, Dubai

Dubai

Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...

.

Plot

A privileged young Arab male 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.

Cast

• Alexandra Maria Lara
  Alexandra Maria Lara
  Alexandra Maria Lara is a Romanian-born German actress. She performs predominantly in leading roles in a variety of historical and crime films...
  
   as Natalia Moldovan
• Sonu Sood
  Sonu Sood
  Sonu Sood is a former model and Indian actor who has acted in Hindi,, Telugu and Tamil films. A participant in the Mr. India contest, he has appeared in commercials for Apollo Tyres, Airtel etc. In Tollywood he is best known for his role as the antagonist, Pasupathi, in the film...
  
   as Basu
• Saoud Al Kaabi as Faisal
• The Narcicyst
  The Narcicyst
  Yassin Alsalman, better known by his stage name The Narcicyst , is an Iraqi journalist and Hip Hop MC[1][2]. Originally from Basra, he was born and raised in Dubai.[2] Now settled in Montreal, Canada....
  
   as Khalfan
• Susan George
  Susan George (actress)
  Susan Melody George is an English film and television actress, and film producer.-Career:She trained at the Stage School, Corona Theatre School and has acted since the age of four, appearing on both television and film...
  
   as Constance Bateman
• Jason Flemyng
  Jason Flemyng
  Jason Iain Flemyng is an English actor. He is known for his film work, which has included roles in British films such as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch , both for Guy Ritchie, as well as Hollywood productions such as Rob Roy along with the Alan Moore comic book adaptations From...
  
   as Guy Berger
• Natalie Dormer
  Natalie Dormer
  Natalie Dormer is an English actress. She is best known for her roles as Victoria in Casanova and as the ill-fated queen Anne Boleyn in the Showtime series The Tudors.-Early life and current lifestyle:...
  
   as Olga
• Ahmed Ahmed
  Ahmed Ahmed
  -Early life:Ahmed Ahmed was born in Helwan, Egypt. His family came to the United States when he was one month old and he grew up in Riverside, California.-Career:...
  
   as Nasser
• Habib Ghuloom as Faisal's Father
• Jaaved Jaffrey
  Jaaved Jaffrey
  Javed Jaffery is an Indian actor, dancer, comedian, impressionist known for his work in several Bollywood films and Indian television shows. His father is the famous comedian Jagdeep.-Professional work:...
  
  as Suresh Khan
• David Chant as Senior Flight Officer