February 5, 2026
FILM: SIRAT
DIRECTED BY: OLIVER LAXE
STARRING: SERGI LOPEZ, BRUNO NUNEZ ARJONA, RICHARD “BIGUI” BELLAMY
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
During the opening shots of Sirat, a group of people are setting up outdoor speakers in a desert somewhere in southern Morocco. Reverberating techno-music with an intense pounding beat starts playing. Soon we are in the middle of a rave where a large group is dancing. Their movements appear to be in a trance, almost zombie-like. They seem to be spiritually connected to the music as a man and boy start passing out fliers amongst these rave-goers. We learn that the man, Luis, is searching for his daughter who has been missing for five months. She had been going to a series of raves and Luis is desperately trying to find her at one of them.
That is the set-up for what is one of the most tense, emotional, and surprising films of the year. Produced by famed Spanish director Pedro Almodovar but directed by French Oliver Laxe, the Oscar-nominated film takes us on a journey that is hard to forget. Luis and his son Esteban begin following a ragtag group of ravers that agrees to take them to the next big desert party. The intensity of this adventure grows with a variety of twists and turns as they encounter rivers to cross, cliff sides, sand storms, and other terrifying obstacles.
However, this isn’t just some action adventure film, it’s a story about people coming together with a common cause. While Luis and Esteban have a strong father/son bond, the ravers they follow are equally well-connected to each other. The group, some might call misfits or outsiders, includes one man who dances and walks with an artificial leg and another who is missing a hand. They seem quite settled into their way of life. They’re people who are giving, they recycle, they live communally, they experience joy and fun, and occasionally indulge in LSD. They’re also risk-takers as they lead Luis and Esteban through some of the most treacherous of roadways.
The raves themselves serve as medicine and offer spiritual energy. They are, of course, outside the reality of everyday life that is happening somewhere in the distance. They learn, as we do, that Europe is under an extreme emergency. War is breaking out, bombs are exploding, and people are heading for the borders. Could this be the next World War? We don’t witness any of this but do see military trucks warning people about the imminent danger. None of this seems to bother Luis or the ravers. They have a goal: to get to the next rave to find the missing girl.
The challenge is finding the right path to get there. One poorly made decision can lead to horrifying consequences. I’m being coy here because viewers need to experience this journey without knowing too much in advance. Suffice to say, everyone’s got their own path to follow. What works for one might not work for another.
Given this, the music featured throughout is intense and driving, even when they are not at a rave. I found echoes of the techno score from Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run with further desert visuals and moving cameras that also draw some comparisons to George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road. The cinematography is outstanding as it captures the vast landscapes, towering mountains, and sand swept atmosphere. These elements, along with skilled editing and Oscar-nominated sound design, keep the intense plot moving in unpredictable directions.
Ultimately, this is a film about escaping but also facing reality. It’s about saying goodbye, dealing with grief, and facing the surprises of life. Music is the spiritual force that surrounds everyone through it all and might offer a sense of hope in extremely difficult times.
Sirat is nominated for this year’s Best International Film Oscar. It played at the Chicago International Film Festival this past Fall and is finally opening in limited release this weekend. I place it at number two on my list of Top Ten films of 2025.
FILM: SIRAT
DIRECTED BY: OLIVER LAXE
STARRING: SERGI LOPEZ, BRUNO NUNEZ ARJONA, RICHARD “BIGUI” BELLAMY
RATING: 4 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
During the opening shots of Sirat, a group of people are setting up outdoor speakers in a desert somewhere in southern Morocco. Reverberating techno-music with an intense pounding beat starts playing. Soon we are in the middle of a rave where a large group is dancing. Their movements appear to be in a trance, almost zombie-like. They seem to be spiritually connected to the music as a man and boy start passing out fliers amongst these rave-goers. We learn that the man, Luis, is searching for his daughter who has been missing for five months. She had been going to a series of raves and Luis is desperately trying to find her at one of them.
That is the set-up for what is one of the most tense, emotional, and surprising films of the year. Produced by famed Spanish director Pedro Almodovar but directed by French Oliver Laxe, the Oscar-nominated film takes us on a journey that is hard to forget. Luis and his son Esteban begin following a ragtag group of ravers that agrees to take them to the next big desert party. The intensity of this adventure grows with a variety of twists and turns as they encounter rivers to cross, cliff sides, sand storms, and other terrifying obstacles.
However, this isn’t just some action adventure film, it’s a story about people coming together with a common cause. While Luis and Esteban have a strong father/son bond, the ravers they follow are equally well-connected to each other. The group, some might call misfits or outsiders, includes one man who dances and walks with an artificial leg and another who is missing a hand. They seem quite settled into their way of life. They’re people who are giving, they recycle, they live communally, they experience joy and fun, and occasionally indulge in LSD. They’re also risk-takers as they lead Luis and Esteban through some of the most treacherous of roadways.
The raves themselves serve as medicine and offer spiritual energy. They are, of course, outside the reality of everyday life that is happening somewhere in the distance. They learn, as we do, that Europe is under an extreme emergency. War is breaking out, bombs are exploding, and people are heading for the borders. Could this be the next World War? We don’t witness any of this but do see military trucks warning people about the imminent danger. None of this seems to bother Luis or the ravers. They have a goal: to get to the next rave to find the missing girl.
The challenge is finding the right path to get there. One poorly made decision can lead to horrifying consequences. I’m being coy here because viewers need to experience this journey without knowing too much in advance. Suffice to say, everyone’s got their own path to follow. What works for one might not work for another.
Given this, the music featured throughout is intense and driving, even when they are not at a rave. I found echoes of the techno score from Tom Tykwer’s Run Lola Run with further desert visuals and moving cameras that also draw some comparisons to George Miller’s Mad Max: Fury Road. The cinematography is outstanding as it captures the vast landscapes, towering mountains, and sand swept atmosphere. These elements, along with skilled editing and Oscar-nominated sound design, keep the intense plot moving in unpredictable directions.
Ultimately, this is a film about escaping but also facing reality. It’s about saying goodbye, dealing with grief, and facing the surprises of life. Music is the spiritual force that surrounds everyone through it all and might offer a sense of hope in extremely difficult times.
Sirat is nominated for this year’s Best International Film Oscar. It played at the Chicago International Film Festival this past Fall and is finally opening in limited release this weekend. I place it at number two on my list of Top Ten films of 2025.