Sirat is being hailed as one of the best if not the best film of the year! Bold, hypnotic and utterly unforgettable, it storms onto the screen with a pulse-pounding energy that demands attention. This is cinema at its most daring, a mesmerising desert odyssey that blends emotional drama with surreal, almost apocalyptic spectacle.
Directed by visionary filmmaker Óliver Laxe, the film is a gripping psychological drama and existential road-movie set against the vast landscapes of Morocco. The story follows Luis, played by Sergi López (also known for the acclaimed fantasy film Pan’s Labyrinth), who travels into the desert with his young son Esteban searching for his missing daughter after she disappears at a remote rave. As they join a group of travellers heading deeper into the Sahara, the journey becomes stranger, darker and more introspective, blurring the line between reality and dream.
Young actor Bruno Núñez Arjona delivers a touching performance as Esteban, while Jade Oukid (seen in the thriller The Night Eats the World) adds enigmatic depth to the wandering rave community. Visually, Sirat is absolutely striking, vast desert cinematography, hypnotic techno music and dreamlike imagery create an immersive, almost spiritual atmosphere.
The film earned the Jury Prize at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and received Academy Award nominations for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound, with critics praising its bold style and emotional intensity. Here is your one off chance to see what all the fuss is about for yourself at the Empire!
You might enjoy Sirat if you liked Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) and Gerry (2002)
