Some films don’t just unfold before you — they draw you in and refuse to let go. Premiering at Fantastic Fest 2025, Sirāt, the latest from director Óliver Laxe, is one of those rare, compelling cinematic experiences. Shot with hypnotic beauty by cinematographer Mauro Herce, the film follows Luis (Sergi López, in one of his most restrained and moving performances) and his teenage son Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona) as they travel across the scorched landscapes of southern Morocco searching for Luis’s missing daughter. She disappeared five months earlier at a desert dance festival, and the pair’s journey becomes as much an inward reflection as a physical quest. The film earned early praise for its immersive storytelling and striking visuals.
What struck me first was the way Sirāt uses its setting. The desert isn’t just a backdrop — it’s a living force, sometimes beautiful and sometimes punishing, shaping the rhythm of the story and the choices of those who cross it. Herce’s camera captures its contradictory nature: endless skies that suggest freedom, and wide, empty plains that remind us how small and lost we really are.
At the core of the film is the complex but deeply human relationship between Luis and Esteban. Their bond, filled with love, frustration, guilt, and resilience, feels painfully genuine — a dynamic that makes every setback in their quest feel more intense. And yet, they are not alone. Along the way, they join a ragtag group of fellow seekers — drifters, artists, ravers, and wanderers — each with their own reasons for pursuing this semi-mythical desert gathering rumored to be near the Mauritanian border. This diverse group adds color and unpredictability, with their stories and secrets touching on Luis and Esteban’s in ways that seem both minor and profoundly significant.
What makes Sirāt so compelling is how it combines intimacy and scale. It’s a deeply personal story about grief and devotion set against an expansive, almost otherworldly landscape. And just when you think you know where it’s going, the film delivers moments so raw and unexpected they drew audible gasps from the audience — myself included.
Bleak yet resonant, Sirāt sticks with you after its final shot. It’s a reflection on love, loss, and how far people will go for those they care about, leaving behind a quiet, pensive impression rather than a typical sense of closure.