★ 8 / 10
No matter how desperate circumstances may become in
Brent Marchant
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…
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.
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★ 7 / 10
“Luis” (Sergi López) and his young son “Esteban”
CinemaSerf
“Luis” (Sergi López) and his young son “Esteban” (Bruno Núñez Arjona) have heard that their missing daughter/sister has joined the rave community deep in the…
“Luis” (Sergi López) and his young son “Esteban” (Bruno Núñez Arjona) have heard that their missing daughter/sister has joined the rave community deep in the Moroccan desert. Their arrival amongst a crowd of people who just want to dance under the stars until the wee small hours leads to little, but they do alight on a group of travellers whom they decide to follow when the police arrive to shut them down. They are soon heading along dirt tracks in a convoy of three vehicles towards the Mauritanian border where the next party is due to happen and where they hope to continue their search. It’s along the way that the group begin to bond, despite their initial suspicions of each other, before a tragedy on a mountain pass introduces a distinctly perilous phase to their travels through an area profoundly unsafe for all concerned. There is something really quite effective about the contrasts between the almost hedonistic use of music and sound at the start and the bleakness of the desert (and the conclusion of the film) and visually their journey is captured impressively. The story, well that’s not so well developed as none of the characters have much meat on their bones nor are we really read into the mentality of the “family” of rave-hoppers who are all different but united by a common, and entirely voluntary, dependence that resonates compellingly, if a little too superficially. It’s possibly the young Arjona who steals the show here but there are also a solid efforts from “Bigui” Bellamy and from Jade Oukid as they illustrate well the attractions of escaping the rat race and casting just about all of their socially induced inhibitions asunder. The conclusion did seem to be a little unnecessarily brutal, but then again perhaps that why dreams so often don’t come true, or turn into cauchemars. It looks stunning throughout and it’s emotionally-charged combination of audio and cinematography does benefit from a cinema experience if you can - it might lose much of that potency on the television, and thereby expose some of it’s less well cooked characterisations.
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★ 7 / 10
Mehdi-Salehi
Mehdi Salehi Film Critic - Editor-in-Chief of "Green Smile" News Website (Iran(Oliver Laxe's fourth feature film, Sirât, marks not only his brilliant debut in…
Mehdi Salehi
Film Critic - Editor-in-Chief of "Green Smile" News Website (Iran(Oliver Laxe's fourth feature film, Sirât, marks not only his brilliant debut in the Cannes Film Festival's main competition but also stands as his boldest and most evolved work to date. This Spanish-French co-production traces a surreal, profoundly existential journey through Morocco's harsh yet majestic desert landscapes-a work that challenges cinematic conventions while confronting viewers with fundamental questions about life, death, hope, and civilizational collapse.Synopsis and Narrative Structure
Luis (masterfully portrayed by Sergi López) and his teenage son Esteban (Bruno Núñez) search for their missing daughter/sister "Mar" at an illegal rave deep in the Moroccan desert. When military forces abruptly shut down the gathering amid apocalyptic warnings of global war, they join a band of nomadic ravers-Jade (Jade Oaked), Tonin (Tonin Janvier), Bigoey (Richard Blamy), Steffi (Stefania Gadda), and Josh (Joshua Liam Henderson)-who seek another rave further into the desert where Mar might be found.The film's first half unfolds at a measured pace, blending dark comedy and drama as human connections form within this makeshift "family." A devastating mid-film turning point-a catastrophic accident and its aftermath-shatters this equilibrium. From here, *Sirât* descends into darker existential and allegorical territory, where characters confront death, madness, and societal ruin while grappling for survival.Artistic Mastery
Direction & Suspense: Laxe demonstrates masterful control of space, rhythm, and tension, expanding the suspense techniques of his 2019 film Fire Will Come on a grander scale. His ability to sustain escalating dread despite radical tonal/genre shifts culminates in a simultaneously absurd and harrowing climax.Cinematography: Mauro Herce's lens captures Morocco's deserts (and Spanish stand-ins) with breathtaking yet menacing beauty. Wide shots, harsh natural lighting, and Super 16mm textures shine in scenes like the speaker-setup under ochre cliffs and the convoy's nocturnal journey.Sound & Music: Kangding Ray's bass-driven electronic score-Cannes' 2025 Best Soundtrack winner-anchors the film like a pounding heartbeat, mirroring rave euphoria and the characters' spiral into delirium. Laia Casanova's sound design layers ambient desert noise (wind, sand, engine roars) into an immersive sonic tapestry.Performances: López delivers a physically expressive, quietly commanding turn as Luis. Non-professional actors (often sharing their characters' names) authentically embody sun-scorched, marginalized resilience, with Blamy and Oaked standing out. Núñez radiates fragile innocence as Esteban.Themes and Symbolism
The "Sirât" Bridge: The title references the razor-thin Islamic bridge between paradise and hell-a metaphor for characters navigating hope/despair, sanity/madness, and civilization/barbarism.Existential Quest: Luis' search for Mar evolves into a struggle for meaning and belonging in a collapsing world. The film poses unanswerable questions: What remains when we lose everything? Animal instinct? Angelic grace? Human dignity?Apocalypse as Allegory: The war-torn backdrop mirrors modern instability and refugee crises, with the group's perilous journey evoking migrants' desperate quests for safety.Collectivism vs. Chaos :The ravers represent a post-apocalyptic micro-utopia built on communal joy-a vision both seductive and fragile against external and internal chaos.Narrative Audacity and Flaws
The film's radical mid-point genre shift-from road drama to existential horror-shocks viewers into recontextualizing all prior events. While this narrative gamble showcases Laxe's confidence, it also exposes weaknesses:
1. Third-Act Disjointedness: Focus on allegory overshadows plot coherence, sidelining Mar's storyline.2. Exhausting Violence: Relentless tragedy in the second half risks numbing viewers and veering into exploitation.3. Underdeveloped Characters: Prioritizing atmosphere over psychology leaves motivations unexplored.4. Problematic Gaze: Portrayals of Morocco occasionally echo colonial perspectives despite Laxe's familiarity with the region.5. Unsatisfying Closure: The ambiguous, bleak ending may frustrate mainstream audiences.Legacy and Significance
Sirât epitomizes Laxe's signature style-poetic realism, social-existential themes, non-professional actors, and audacious formal experimentation. Technically superior to earlier works like »You All Are Captains (2010)«, »Mimosas (2016)«, and »Fire Will Come (2019)«, it solidifies his artistic maturity. As Laxe himself notes, this is his most politically radical work: a ruthless deconstruction of societal collapse, human violence, and migration crises through narrative subversion.Blending European arthouse sensibilities with road-movie grit, apocalyptic tension, electronic energy, and Hollywood-esque thrills (Mad Max, Sorcerer), Sirât carves a distinct cinematic identity. Its haunting power lingers long after the credits-an uncompromising demand to confront darkness through unfiltered vision.Footnotes
Existentialism*: A philosophy emphasizing individual existence, absolute freedom, and personal responsibility. It posits that humans define their essence through choices in an inherently meaningless world, embracing anxiety to live authentically.Raves*: Underground parties organized by DJs requiring personal referrals. Attendees pay entry fees, and recreational drug use is prevalent.
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Can we have Newborn