The Sons of Two Suns is an Emirati post apocalyptic science fiction short film directed by S. A. Zaidi and produced by Ghanem Ghubash, it is known to be the first science fiction film of United Arab Emirates.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

The Sons of Two Suns
The Sons of Two Suns Official Poster
Directed byS. A. Zaidi
Written byS. A. Zaidi
Produced byGhanem Ghubash
StarringSaga Alyasery
Ana Druzhynina
Mohammad Abu Diak
CinematographyGhanem Ghubash
Edited byNina Sargsyan
Music byTabraiz Haroon
Zeeshan Tahir
Jaxx Monteath
Release date
  • April 2013 (2013-04) (Gulf Film Festival)
Running time
10 minutes
CountryUnited Arab Emirates
LanguagesEnglish
Arabic

Premise

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During the end of the world, three friends struggle to survive in Dubai. They search for shelter in an empty city devastated by two suns on the horizon.

Production

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The film was entirely shot outdoors during the peak summer months in Dubai in order to achieve the desired effect created by natural sunlight and extreme heat in the city. Some of the crew were hospitalized due to heat stroke.[8]

Release

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The films trailer premiered at the Middle East Film and Comic Con Dubai.[9] The film was released at the Gulf Film Festival[10][11][12] and had its US premiere at Boston Science Fiction Film Festival.[13]

Reception

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io9 mentioned ″Short film "Sons of Two Suns" is being billed as the UAE's first science fiction film. It's about a city that's dying of heat, and you couldn't ask for a better landscape than Dubai to film in.″[14] Vice (magazine) found "Dubai's First Sci-Fi Film Is a Reminder That Dubai Itself Is Not Actually Science Fiction, now that the city has produced its own sci-fi film, a surprise post-apocalyptic vision of a city torn apart by the approach of two suns.″[15] Virgin.com said "the film is steeped in heavy yellow filters as we gaze in wonder at Dubai's decline. Although not all that cheery, the film looks at the three survivors, and gives us a harsh look, from a Dubai perspective, what things could be like!″.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "UAE filmmakers create milestone with first Sci-Fi movie: "The Son of two Suns"". #GFF2013 News April 11–17, 2013. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  2. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: تقرير من #برنامج_سيدتي عن مشاركات الشباب في #مهرجان_الخليج_السينمائي. YouTube.
  3. ^ "Gulf Film Festival 2023 Dubai gets the post apocalyptic treatment".
  4. ^ "Arab science fiction shines light on current Middle East themes". The National. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  5. ^ "UAEs take on sci-fi".
  6. ^ Determann, Jörg Matthias (2018-01-29). Space Science and the Arab World: Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East. ISBN 9781786723529.
  7. ^ Determann, Jörg Matthias (2018-04-30). Space Science and the Arab World: Astronauts, Observatories and Nationalism in the Middle East. ISBN 978-1788310147.
  8. ^ "Spaceships for Sci-fi enthusiasts".
  9. ^ "Comic Con: New film imagines post-apocalyptic Dubai".
  10. ^ "Dubai International Film Festival". Dubai International Film Festival. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  11. ^ "Dubai International Film Festival | Films 2013 - The Sons Of Two Suns". dubaifilmfest.com. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12.
  12. ^ "What not to miss at the Gulf Film Fest 2013".
  13. ^ "Pelham, NH News - Local News for Pelham, New Hampshire". www.americantowns.com. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  14. ^ Newitz, Annalee. "It's the UAE's answer to a post-apocalyptic Vin Diesel movie". io9. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  15. ^ "Dubai's First Sci-Fi Film Is a Reminder That Dubai Itself Is Not Actually Science Fiction". Motherboard. 2013-04-30. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
  16. ^ admin (2013-12-12). "How will Dubai look in the future?". Virgin. Retrieved 2018-05-29.
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The Sons of Two Suns at IMDb