“Sirât”
(Spain/France)
Screened at the 61st Chicago International Film Festival (International Competition) (4/5)
Letterboxd (4/5), Imdb.com (8/10), TMDB.com (8/10); Imdb.com critics review
#BrentMarchant #Sirât #ChiFilmFest #Morocco #missingdaughter #rave #desert #war #OliverLaxe
No matter how desperate circumstances may become in our lives, they can always get worse, presenting us with an exacting test of our capabilities and will to survive. And, in doing so, the experience provides us with an opportunity to look at how unimaginably resilient we can be, no matter how seemingly impossible the odds may appear stacked against us. Those are the conditions put to a worried father, Luis (Sergi López), and his young son, Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona), as they earnestly go in search of their missing daughter/sister at a rave in Morocco. Unfortunately, there’s no sign of her, but a band of ravers (Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Henderson, Richard “Bigui” Bellamy, Tonin Janvier, Jade Oukid) suggests that they consider looking for her at another upcoming event soon to be held in Morocco’s southern desert near the Mauritanian border. However, as the festivities play out, troops arrive on the scene, ordering the evacuation of all Europeans in the wake of the outbreak of war. But, as the attendees are rounded up for removal, the five rebel ravers flee, with Luis and Esteban in tow, with the intents of traveling to the next event and continuing the search for the missing woman. The unlikely traveling companions thus embark with a sense of adventure and hope, unaware of the many perils that await them on the road against a backdrop wherein World War III has apparently begun. The challenges soon descend upon the travelers thick and furious, significantly impacting their journey, not to mention their ability to stay alive. Can they rise to the occasion? That’s what writer-director Oliver Laxe explores in this edgy road trip saga, punctuated by an array of shockingly unexpected developments, plot devices that successfully take big chances as this intensely engrossing story unfolds. The narrative is backed by a positively mesmerizing soundtrack, one of the best I’ve seen come out of a movie in ages, as well as stunning desert cinematography and fine performances by the entire ensemble. Admittedly, a few sequences could be better explained, and the back story across the board could have been better developed. However, when faced with conditions like these, it may be easy for the characters to disregard them in the face of more pressing concerns, and that could be the intent underlying their exclusion here. Either way, the lack of elaboration in these areas doesn’t significantly detract from the aspects that truly work best in this superb release, one honored with four awards at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, including the prestigious Jury Prize, as well as a nomination for the Palme d’Or, the event’s highest honor. Look for this one to potentially garner more traction as movie awards season plays out, recognition that the picture truly deserves.
A band of unlikely travelers (from left, Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Henderson, Richard “Bigui” Bellamy, Sergi López) journey through the Moroccan desert but face unspeakable perils along the way, as seen in “Sirât.” Photo courtesy of Neon and Chicago International Film Festival.