Sirāt film review: Provocative and courageous
Mesmeric moments and compelling performances help make this an unforgettable cinematic experience
There are few films that take your breath away like Sirāt. This astonishingly unpredictable, cruel and unusual film from writer-director Óliver Laxe (Fire Will Come) is set in the deserts of southern Morocco. Co-written with Santiago Fillol, it focuses on a father (Luis, played by veteran Spanish star Sergi López) who is searching for his adult daughter, accompanied by his young son Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona) and the family dog.
After Luis receives a tip off that the missing Mar will be attending a desert rave, he turns up to interrogate attendees. There’s no sign of her there but this anomalously curmudgeonly figure hears about a second rave taking place even deeper in the desert, which he seeks out after a group of soldiers break up the original event amid escalating societal upheaval. Luis is warned about the perilous terrain and his lack of preparation, but his persistence and predicament attracts the sympathy of a small group of ravers (led by Stefania Gadda and Jade Oukid), who come to his aid.
As Luis’ unfortunate, apparently futile quest unfolds and an unseen political situation explodes in the background, Sirāt has the feel of a fable. It’s important not to reveal too much in order to preserve the significant surprises, suffice to say that it evolves into an extraordinarily hair-raising, excruciatingly tense experience. Laxe and Fillol have plenty to offer about our shared humanity, about not judging a book by its cover, the precarious times we live in, and western privilege.
This is courageous, provocative cinema, with the film’s two Oscar-nominations (for Best International Feature and Sound) richly deserved. The early scenes of desert dancing are gorgeous, thumping and mesmeric, while performances from the largely non-professional cast are compelling and pleasingly confounding. Will you want to rewatch it? Possibly not. However, sometimes films act like a shock to the system. This is one of those times.
Sirāt is in cinemas from Friday 27 February.