I was not at all prepared for this movie. I was offered a guaranteed ticket and reserved seat, so I couldn’t pass up the chance to experience a film that would absolutely blow my mind. Though I read the synopsis offered by Fantastic Fest, I had no idea what kind of experience I would have. Fantastic Fest and Neon Studios selected this incredible film, which happens to be Spain’s entry for Best International Feature Film at next year’s Academy Awards, and they made a very wise choice.
In the Southern Moroccan desert, a large assortment of people gather to dance and party at a rave where they can sweat and escape to some pulse-pounding beats until their hearts are content. However, two people arrive for a very different reason. A father, Luis (Sergi López), and his son, Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjona), come in search of Luis’ daughter, who has been missing and is known to attend similar raves. The two encounter a group of regular ravers who know of another rave taking place farther into the desert. The ravers reluctantly allow Luis and Esteban to follow them into the treacherous desert, and the group eventually encounters an experience they will never, ever forget.
Because the movie takes place in a perilous location in Morocco, the characters not only come across natural hazards, but also dangers created by the military in the area. The result is a journey filled with palpable tension and incendiary, explosive dangers that are guaranteed to disturb and shock its audiences. I cannot remember another film, besides William Friedkin’s Sorcerer, that has had me so on edge and utterly rattled like Sirāt. Director Oliver Laxe and his crew and cast deliver outstanding work to create an experience that is tremendously rich in stress, dread, and shock value.
The movie starts with a hypnotic and immersive rave sequence, but then takes us on a riveting journey into unknown and bleak territory. When the film goes off the rails, it is so jarring and filled with tension that I needed a chaser of something lighter and fun after watching this visceral film.
I cannot stress this enough, but this movie truly blew me away. I can certainly understand why Spain has chosen this film as their submission to the Oscars next year. It is an incredible, though not enjoyable experience, but it is an extraordinary example of outstanding filmmaking that only comes around once in a while.