Road covered entirely in dust with no sign of life or movement
"Sirât," a new film directed by Oliver Laxe, is set to be released on August 14. The movie follows the journey of a father, Luis, and his son, Esteban, as they search for their missing daughter and sister, Mar, in southern Morocco.
Luis and Esteban are out of place among the revelers at a rave they stumble upon, distributing flyers with Mar's photo in hopes of finding her. Encouraged by rumors that Mar might be at another rave deeper in the desert, they follow a group of ravers.
The soundtrack features humming, droning, thumping, and buzzing, reflecting the techno-hippie atmosphere. French techno DJ Kangding Ray's music is prominently featured throughout the film.
As they travel, they face various challenges, including vehicle mishaps and dangerous terrain. The group dynamic evolves with shared experiences, but tragedy strikes when Esteban and their dog, Pipa, fall off a cliff.
The backdrop of their journey is a world on the brink of chaos, with reports of armed conflict and World War III unfolding. The film's second half depicts sometimes grueling events that emotionally and psychologically exhaust the audience, as film critic Jessica Kiang notes.
"Sirât" combines dystopian elements with existential drama, setting the story against a backdrop of global turmoil. This dystopian context amplifies the existential questions and crises faced by the characters, as they navigate not only the physical desert landscape but also the psychological and emotional deserts within themselves.
The film's cast includes Sergi López, Bruno Núñez, Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Henderson, Jade Oukid, and Richard Bellamy. "Sirât" is a surreal road movie that follows eccentric protagonists on a journey through the desert, blending avant-garde cinematic styles with post-apocalyptic imagery reminiscent of "Mad Max."
The military arrives and declares the rave over, citing an emergency regulation for all Europeans to leave the country. Despite the dire circumstances, the narrative remains focused on personal relationships and existential crises, grounding the story in an exploration of human connection and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.
[1] The Playlist [2] IndieWire [3] Film Comment
- Despite the global turmoil depicted in "Sirât", it is not a political film; instead, it focuses on general news such as personal relationships and existential crises.
- Alongside movies-and-tv shows and general news, "Sirât" offers a unique blend of entertainment through its surreal road movie narrative and its fusion of avant-garde cinematography with post-apocalyptic imagery.
- In addition to crime-and-justice stories, "Sirât" delves into the exploration of human connection and the search for meaning in a chaotic world, offering insights that could also be found in entertainment sections of magazines like The Playlist, IndieWire, or Film Comment.
