Sirāt

This "road movie" speaks of more than just a simple trip: it's the chronicle of an inner journey disguised as a dusty route, a path where decisions weigh more than the miles and where the unexpected becomes a permanent co-pilot. It's an exciting and dangerous crossing in which reaching that party is barely an excuse -almost an afterthought- while the desert dust becomes the only loyal companion, supplies and fuel turn into treasures of great value, and LSD opens the door to a fleeting refuge where inner scars are neither seen nor felt.

The result is a blend of genres that shifts between family drama, western, adventure, and thriller, as if the film itself needed to get lost in order to find its way. Because, in the end, this sensory journey to nowhere speaks precisely of that: moving forward, even without knowing where to, hoping that-for once-the destination matters less than the road.

Oliver Laxe presents his latest work, written in collaboration with Santiago Fillol, a film that delivers a powerful emotional impact in its second half and invites profound philosophical reflection. An intriguing director who is definitely not for the faint of heart.

Starring the talented Sergi López and a cast of non-professional actors, the story follows a man (Sergi López) and his son (Bruno Núñez) who arrive at a remote rave in Morocco. They are searching for Mar, their daughter and sister, who disappeared months ago at one of those endless parties. Surrounded by electronic music and a kind of freedom unknown to them, they distribute her photo repeatedly. Along the way, they meet a group of ravers and decide to follow them to one last party in the desert, hoping to find the missing young woman.

Sirât is a peculiar film, good but peculiar, that shocks with a second half that mentally shatters you with relentless cruelty, fragmenting your mind into tiny, breathless moments. Its director manipulates your emotions and your ability to concentrate in front of the screen with impressive cunning, ensuring that you never lose the thread built in the first half.

It's an unsettling film in its narrative, and while it doesn't particularly resolve its plot points, it goes far beyond that. It's a work that invites constant reflection and poses a challenge about how much we are willing to endure. It also stands out for its manipulation of its protagonists, who are gradually destroyed in their own minds, thanks to an impeccable script that, while not structurally satisfying, proves to be a truly interesting exercise in visual philosophy.

A peculiar undertaking, perhaps not for all audiences, and certainly a film you'll either love or hate with no middle ground. Its strength lies in offering a fascinating sensory experience, where sound is its greatest asset, but its weakness is a somewhat unfinished script that may leave you completely bewildered. Nevertheless, it's an interesting film that takes big risks, with a director of extraordinary intelligence capable of making you feel and then shattering you without warning.

In conclusion...

It's Spain's Oscar submission, and that's quite an achievement. It's an interesting film, not perfect, not for everyone, but it's definitely a work that will leave you stunned, breathless, and unable to laugh. It's a cruel film in every sense, showing no mercy to the viewer in its second half, but it offers many interesting elements to win you over, beyond its invitation to visual philosophy.

"Oh, it's a new concept, a rave movie, you have to feel the vibe." But what kind of vibe does this movie actually give us? In the beginning, I was expecting a strong plot development: a father and his son desperately searching for a missing daughter. That setup had potential for suspense and emotional depth. Instead, the movie suddenly derails into nonsensical filmography filled with random, poorly executed deaths that add nothing to the story. The supposed "rave vibe" is just chaotic editing, flashing lights, and hollow noise that never manages to immerse you. And then it all ends abruptly, with no resolution, no explanation, and no sense of closure.

Sirat is a profound meditation on the fragility of the human condition and the illusions of safety embedded in the Western worldview. Oliver Laxe challenges our assumptions of stability, revealing how easily the structures we rely on-both physical and emotional-can be shaken by the randomness of life. Through its stripped-down narrative and haunting visual poetry, the film reminds us of our vulnerability and the urgent need for humility when confronting the unexpected. Sirat is not just a cinematic experience; it's a quiet, powerful wake-up call.

The film also fosters a deep sense of empathy toward those who live in regions marked by material hardship and constant insecurity. By immersing us in a reality so far removed from Western comfort, Sirat dismantles the distance between "us" and "them." It allows us to feel, however briefly, the weight of a life lived without guarantees. In doing so, it encourages a more compassionate and humble perspective toward those whose daily lives are shaped by instability, reminding us that resilience is often born from circumstances we can barely imagine.

A father named Luís (Sergi López) and his son Esteban (Bruno Nuñez) are determined to find their daughter, who disappeared long ago at one of the rave parties held in the vastness of the Moroccan desert. Along the way, they join a group of eccentric ravers(Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Herderson, Richard Bellamy 'Bigui', Jade Oukid), and they all head through the desert, dangerous mountains, and minefields to find the missing daughter.

The Spanish entry at the 2026 Oscars and starring Sergi Lopez (Pan's Labyrinth), under the direction of Oliver Laxe (O que arde), Sirat is a powerful and exciting cinematic experience that ultimately turns brutal when the unfortunate protagonists become involved in a series of tragic misfortunes. Thus, the actors wander through the desert, from a world that appears to be a paradise of captivating music to a true hell on earth. As explained at the beginning of the film, there is a bridge called Sirat that connects hell and paradise; a bridge with a span narrower than a strand of hair and sharper than a sword. That's why our starring, Luis, well played by Sergi López, and his son Esteban, aptly performed by the boy Bruno Nuñez, a novice in the art of acting, head towards one of these places on the edge of the abyss. They both join up with a gang of ravers they meet along the way, all of them heading to the supposed last party in the desert, where the long-awaited and stressed father hopes to find his teenage daughter who lost at one of these parties. This is an enjoyable and intense adventure that follows an expedition throughout deserts, dangerous and mountainous landscapes and a particular relationship between the strange characters. These are: Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Herderson, Richard 'Bigui' Bellamy, Jade Oukid; they also play the gang of eccentric ravers who accompany them on their winding path in a decent and natural way.

Good production design and correctly reflecting the opressive atmosphere and excellent location. Splendid photography with juicy atmosphere by cmeraman Mauro Herce , a great cameramen of the Spanish cinema and Oliver Laxe's regular cameraman . Being appropriately filmed on location , showing one colorful filming from Morocco, Western Sahara: it is the territory in the south of Morrocco bordering with Mauritania where the team is suppost to head to; and Spanish locations as Teruel, and Zaragoza, Aragón. Adding a catching, spiritual, and rave musical score. Sirat was originally directed by Oliver Laxe, who frequently sets his stories in Morocco. . Oliver Laxe is a director and actor, known for Mimosas (2016), Lo que arde (2019) and Todos vosotros sois capitanes (2010). His most succesful film is ¨Lo que arde (2019) " in Spanish,¨O que Arde¨or "What It Burns" that won several awards and nominations. And of course, this ¨Sirat¨, this film has garnered much national and international acclaim, garnering numerous nominations and awards around the world, being Jury Prize Winner in Cannes 2025 . Sirat rating: 6.5/10. An acceptable and decent film, which, after a slow start, slowly draws you in.