ABU DHABI // The unexpectedly successful City of Life, the UAE's first "home-grown" movie, is to be shown in other Gulf countries from next week.
About 80,000 UAE movie-goers have watched the 90-minute film since its release on 12 screens in April, twice the number expected by the film's producer, Tim Smythe.
"We never expected to get to 80,000," he said. "Now we are still showing on two screens, at the Ibn Battuta and Dubai Mall, though this is probably going to be the last week. By comparison, for example, Avatar stayed on for months and sold 300,000 tickets but it opened at 45 screens."
City of Life is due to open at cinemas in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman on June 24. It was also picked up by an international distributor, Shoreline Entertainment, at the Cannes Film Festival, which is working on the worldwide release.
"It's unlikely to get a cinematic release in the rest of the world - excluding the Middle East and India - because the distributor would have to pay a lot for print and advertising. The advertising would cost more than the film cost to make. Distributors didn't mind this when they knew they would get the money back on a film, but it's more likely to get a TV and DVD release," Mr Smythe said.
In the UAE, the team had a minimal budget for advertising, said Ali Mostafa, the 19-year-old Emirati director.
"We have never had any proper marketing, it's lasted so long through word of mouth."
Local reaction has been positive. "For a feature film to get that much publicity is a landmark," said Nezar Andary, an assistant professor of literature and film at Zayed University. "What's amazing is that the director chose the hardest kind of film to deal with; a multiple narrative. It's a very difficult thing to control. It created a lot of discussion, even if their opinion was against the film."
asafdar@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
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The specs: Rolls-Royce Cullinan
Price, base: Dh1 million (estimate)
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbo V12
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Power: 563hp @ 5,000rpm
Torque: 850Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 15L / 100km
Company%20Profile
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The five pillars of Islam
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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