A father, accompanied by his son, goes looking for his missing daughter in North Africa.

‘Sirāt’ is a Spanish film from Oliver Laxe, that begins as a missing-person drama and slowly turns into something far more unsettling. It follows a father (Sergi López) searching for his daughter after she disappears at an underground rave in North Africa, but what starts as a straightforward premise gradually takes a turn into a bleak, unpredictable journey across the desert. Nominated for ‘Best International Feature Film’ at this year’s Oscars, this is undoubtedly a singular experience that does not follow typical narrative conventions. I can’t decide if it’s a masterpiece or utterly sadistic, or both, but it has stuck with me since watching it a couple of days ago.

There are clear shades of ‘Mad Max’ in the dust-soaked landscapes of North Africa (though much of it shot in Spain) and convoy movement, and it also recalls ‘Sorcerer’ in the way it builds tension through physical danger and mounting dread. I saw that film for the first time a few weeks ago and like that film, ‘Sirāt’ had me equally on the edge of my seat if not moreso. Besides Lopez, the cast is largely non-professional, drawn from individuals Laxe found during pre-production, many of whom were part of the raving scene and that approach pays dividends with the raw and naturalistic performances we get.

I also can’t walk past talking about how impressive the sound design of this movie is, beginning with the early chaos of the rave scenes before giving way to chugging engines and the unpredictable natural weather. The atmosphere this builds up is oppressive and makes the movie all the more immersive and frankly, intimidating. That plays into the bleakness that permeates throughout the story as it progresses, and safe to say I was not prepared for all the ways in which this story unfolds.

‘Sirāt’ is a film that puts you through the ringer and is near impossible to shake, and that alone already makes it one of the most memorable films of the year.

Rating: 4/5

Directed By: Óliver Laxe

Starring: Sergi López, Bruno Núñez Arjona, Richard Bellamy, Stefania Gadda, Joshua Liam Henderson, Tonin Janvier and Jade Oukid

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt32298285/