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Men in love — with their cars
DUBAI - Student filmmaker Moaza Al Sharif takes a humorous look at Emirati men's love for their cars in documentary 'Al Zawja Al Thania' (Second Wife).
- PUBLISHED: Tue 13 Apr 2010, 11:41 PM UPDATED: Thu 4 Jul 2024, 10:52 AM
The 21-year-old national, who studies Applied Media at Dubai Women's College, first thought of the concept whilst discussing marriage with her brother Omar in their family home.
“He said, 'Why would I get married to a woman, I'll marry a car - she doesn't say anything, and I can take her wherever I want!'” recalls Moaza with a laugh. “I found out it's true - many men consider their cars their first wife, even not their second.”
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Within her lighthearted documentary, Moaza interviews 24-year-old Omar, who drives an S-Class Mercedes, as well as several other petrol heads, including Ali Ahli, a voice artist on local animated series 'Shabiat Al Cartoon'.
“He's addicted to modification,” she says of Ahli. Moaza adds that her brother was “very proud” to appear in the project, an entry in the student competition at this year's Gulf Film Festival.
Moaza, who drives a Land Cruiser, believes that men's love for their vehicles is inbuilt in their DNA - something that surfaces during their teenage.
“The documentary is just on the UAE, but I think if I travelled welsewhere in the world, I'd still find a lot of men in love with their cars,” she claims.
But, she adds, plenty of women have a soft spot for a sleek sports car too, a topic which is also covered in the 14-minute documentary.
“Ladies love sports cars because of the sound, the speed and the shape,” says Moaza, who is particularly fond of Porsches, Lamborghinis and Ferraris. “I know some women who know even more than guys about them.”
However, Moaza insists she would never be won over by a man with a flash ride and little else to show for himself.
“If a guy's car is attractive but not his personality, what's the point?” she asks. “I'd look for his personality, and his car would be the last thing I'd consider.”
Moaza has several other Dubai-based documentaries in the pipeline - one on break dancers and another called 'A Day Out with A Policeman'.
“I get afraid when I see a police car behind me, like they're going to catch me for doing something,” says Moaza. “I want to show people they're not monsters, they're here to help us - and to teach myself that point!”
adam@khaleejtimes.com