Our Review

                                 Movie: SIRĀT

   Rating: R,  language, some violent content and drug                       use --  Arabic and Spanish with English                                              subtitles

                                  Length: 1:55

                 Release Date: February 6, 2026

Jeanne: In SIRĀT, a Spanish father, Luis (Sergi López) and his young son, Esteban (Bruno Núñez Arjuno), get caught up in a desperate search for Mar, their daughter/sister, a woman in  her early 20s who went missing months before. She vanished after attending a rave and now Luis and Esteban are in the Moroccan desert handing out her photo at another endless techno party.

When the rave is broken up by the presence of military, Luis and Esteban follow a motley group of partiers in their old minivan heading south to another party. There are five ravers, an Italian, Stefania Gadda, an Irishman, Joshua Liam Henderson, and three from France, Tonin Janvier, Jade Oukid and Richard Bellamy. They are all real-life ravers from the Free Party underground and they travel in two much larger trucks, which are more suitable for crossing a desert than Luis’ small minivan.

Luis and Esteban manage to convince them that they are up for the adventure --- and they are determined to find Mar. But what begins as a light-hearted journey to another rave turns into the sojourn from hell. To escape the ever-present soldiers, this tiny band of travelers resorts to driving up dangerous mountain roads --- and then across the open desert in a terrifying sequence. 

Directed by Oliver Laxe, who co-wrote the screenplay with his frequent collaborator Santiago Fillol, SIRĀT is considered an action-adventure story by Laxe. It certainly is an adventure --- perhaps that may be an understatement. The screenplay covers a great deal of subjects, most importantly the topic of freedom.

At one time Laxe and a former partner traveled the rave circuit in Europe. He was serious about portraying theses nomads as more than just lazy people who only drink and take drugs. Many of them have embraced their humanity and are living their lives freely.

And the five Laxe has chosen for his film are steeped in political awareness and social norms. López was impressed with their “infectious spirit” --- and their abilities in front of the camera. Having never acted before, these novices were extremely natural and created a desirable on-screen “family”.

López and Bruno established a sweet and loving father/son relationship. They work beautifully together --- and Bruno, who was 12 when SIRĀT was shot, shows exceptional talent. López, a seasoned actor, gives a bravura performance as Luis endures multiple tragedies. He’s quite remarkable.

Laxe’s story is greatly enhanced by the pulsating techno soundtrack courtesy of David Letellier, who performs as Kangding Ray. His album from 2014, Solens Arc, features the track “Amber Decay”, which was remixed for the first scenes of the film. And the cinematography by Mauro Herce is exquisite, particularly the striated cliffs in the Rambla de Barrachina in northwest Spain.

SIRĀT is not especially entertaining, but it is a brilliant piece of filmmaking focusing on the power of pain and love. It’s a movie that will stay with you for a very long time.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

David: SIRĀT is a haunting film from writer/director Oliver Laxe and his co-writer Santiago Fillol. The opening sequence features a rave in Morocco which lasts for 17 minutes. A rave is a musical event where techno music is played at extremely high volume while the participants dance like their lives depend on it. It’s a fascinating spectacle to witness, and while it sets the tone for SIRĀT, the story involves a father and his young son searching for their missing daughter/sister named Mar.

In Islamic belief, the Sirat Bridge is a narrow and dangerous bridge that all must cross on the Day of Judgment, to enter Paradise. However, some of those crossing are sinners and may end up in Hell. The characters in Laxe’s movie indeed experience some paradise and a whole lot of Hell.

From the infectious enthusiasm and joy of the rave, to hardship and inexplicable tragedy, and ultimately to a form of redemption or at least the continuation of life, the seven main characters traverse the unforgiving desert battling extreme heat, rain and vicious sandstorms.

Spanish actor Sergi López is a seasoned performer. He portrays Luis, along with his younger son, Esteban (12-year-old newcomer Bruno Núñez Arjuno). After an army battalion suddenly appears during the rave and disperses the event, Luis and Esteban hook up with five nomads from the Free Party Movement to find another rave.

The five individuals, traveling in two large trucks, agree to have Luis and Esteban follow them in their ordinary minivan. The group of five include Bigui (Richard Bellamy), Stef (Stefania Gadda), Josh (Joshua Liam Henderson), Tonin (Tonin Janvier) and Jade (Jade Oukid). These five principal actors had never before been in front of a movie camera, but you wouldn’t know it watching their performances.

The second half of this film features sparse dialogue as the group is preoccupied with reaching their goal and surviving the desert. The suspense in  SIRĀT is as real as anything ever put on celluloid. This is a story that promises to stay with cinema lovers for an extended period…but in a good way.

SIRĀT won the Jury Award and the Soundtrack Award at Cannes 2025. It also boasts of a slew of nominations from many, many film festivals around the world. And it is Spain’s confirmed entry for Best Foreign Picture at the next Academy Awards. The ever-present techno music is credited to  producer and composer DJ Kangding Ray.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!