From Cannes Acclaim to Oscar Contention: The Journey of 'Sirāt'
Since its prize-winning debut at the Cannes Film Festival, Oliver Laxe's spiritually charged film 'Sirāt' has become one of the year's most discussed cinematic works. The French-born Galician director, standing at an imposing 6-foot-6, acknowledges the reputation his creation has forged. 'When I'm on a plane and things are going bad, I say, 'Come on, you're the director of 'Sirāt.' You cannot be scared,'' Laxe revealed with laughter during an interview with The Associated Press.
A Father's Quest Through Apocalyptic Landscapes
The film follows a father, portrayed by Sergi López, who embarks on a desperate search for his teenage daughter alongside his 12-year-old son, played by Bruno Núñez Arjona. Their journey leads them to a remote rave in southern Morocco, where their quest proves fruitless. They subsequently join a small caravan of ravers traversing an expansive desert, their journey evolving into an existential confrontation with approaching apocalypse.
Throughout 'Sirāt' – which translates to 'path' or 'way' in Arabic – a primal beat underscores the narrative. The film boldly addresses contemporary anxieties, with World War III referenced on radio broadcasts and the arid landscape visibly suffering from climate change effects, particularly water scarcity. Laxe's vision is uncommonly direct about what the future holds for both his characters and modern society.
Critical Reception and Director's Philosophical Vision
The film begins its one-week qualifying run in select theatres ahead of the Oscars, where it represents Spain's submission. Scheduled for wider release in early 2026 through Neon, 'Sirāt' has already proven a box-office success in Spain and France, drawing comparisons to classics like 'The Wages of Fear' and 'Mad Max'.
While not every viewer has embraced the film's intense odyssey, it has undeniably resonated deeply with many. 'For me, cinema isn't about 'I like it' or 'I don't like it,'' Laxe explained. 'My purpose is: Did it move something?'
During the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this autumn, the philosophical director discussed the spiritual foundations of his work and why filmmaking must evolve. He described the film as a 'rite of passage' intended to provoke introspection in audiences. 'I think the world we're approaching will be like this: Life will push us so much into a border,' Laxe reflected, addressing themes of climate change and artificial intelligence. 'Life will ask us what it is to be a human being.'
Despite the film's severe themes, Laxe maintains an optimistic outlook. 'I'm really optimistic for the future,' he stated. 'It will be tough, but we will be obliged to look inside.'
The director revealed that initial images for 'Sirāt' began forming in 2011, inspired by his time living in a palm grove in southern Morocco and travels through Senegal and Mauritania. He described the Moroccan landscape as 'wounded' yet humbling, putting human scale into perspective.
Production faced significant challenges, including sandstorms and intense summer heat, though Laxe characteristically embraced these difficulties. 'I like to go to my limits,' he admitted. 'I think that art, rave culture and spirituality are about this, to cross minefields, to take a path where you don't know where you're going.'
Laxe acknowledged fearing the film's extreme narrative choices might alienate audiences, particularly when friends expressed concern that 'We don't want people to suffer.' However, he remained committed to his artistic vision, describing the necessity to 'jump into the abyss' and 'cross my own minefield.' The director reported that many viewers, though initially shaken, experience a 'kind of revival' and feel 'more life' after watching the film.
Laxe ultimately views cinema not as entertainment but as ceremony, drawing parallels to ancient Greek theatre where audiences sought catharsis rather than diversion. 'They were going to theatre to purge their ghosts,' he noted, 'in order to experiment with things that they don't in life in order to save society.'
