Frequent travellers among you might have already wondered: why on earth would Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways allow falcons on board? In fact, falcons are not only permitted on the main aircraft (the only exception to the no animal rule), they have their own passports and, in certain cases, are allowed to purchase their own seats. Italian visual artist Yuri Ancarani provides all the explanation you’ll ever need in his jaw-dropping documentary “The Challenge”, which crosses the Persian Gulf to accompany a falconer to an important competition. The art of falconry is a strange beast: uniting contemporary luxury with a 40-century-old hunting ritual, it allows urban dwellers of a certain stature to rekindle their waning relationship with the desert.

The sport has naturally changed along with the times, but Ancarani – who notably spent three years recording these intriguing all-male encounters – is not inclined to divulge the rules. Instead, he creates an almost erotic mise-en-scène, featuring men, cars and cigars, where women have been thoroughly replaced by birds. Falcons, bought and sold on televised auctions for breathtaking sums, surge through the air in pursuit of just released pigeons, while a throng of distinguished participants follow them in custom-built Lamborghinis, gold Harley Davidsons and armored SUVs, entranced by their soaring flight.