In Oliver Laxe's existential mystery thriller Sirāt, a group of ravers converge in the southern Moroccan desert for a three-day rave, their presence an unlikely convergence. The revellers were no ordinary partygoers; most were lifelong fans who had travelled from across Europe to experience this makeshift festival.
According to Laxe, he and his team deliberately subverted conventional filmmaking norms by incorporating elements of reality into the narrative. He recalls one of the DJs, Sebastian Vaughan AKA 69db, a key member of Spiral Tribe, sharing that "the music cannot stop for three days." This anecdote resonated with Laxe's vision for Sirāt, which promises to be an arthouse crossover hit.
At its core, Sirāt is a road movie about a modest family unit – Luis, his son Esteban, and their dog Pipa – embarking on a perilous search for a missing daughter. Their journey is complicated by news of an armed conflict in the region and the arrival of the army to dismantle the desert festival.
However, over time, the film's focus shifts away from the family's quest, delving into the spiritual significance of rave culture. Laxe views raving as a means of confronting mortality, echoing Sufi mysticism and gestalt psychotherapy principles. He posits that within this ecstatic experience lies a transcendence that dissolves the ego.
Laxe intentionally cast non-professional actors with disabilities to highlight the emotional imperfections of those seeking solace on the dancefloor. The film portrays rave culture as an environment where expression is uninhibited, allowing individuals to confront and release their emotions.
The score for Sirāt was composed by David Letellier AKA Kangding Ray, a respected underground producer who has worked with legendary experimentalist label Raster-Noton. Letellier drew upon his experiences in DIY and queer subcultures, where solidarity, resistance, and anti-authoritarian ethos were once prevalent.
During the production process, Letellier poured his emotions into crafting sounds that resonated with the on-screen narrative. He described his role as a sculptor who carves, polishes, cuts, or destroys sounds to evoke a disintegrating sonic landscape that gradually succumbs to dark ambient noise.
In one poignant moment, Luis grapples with devastation in his life, only to find solace in dancing amidst a low techno heartbeat. The film suggests that our bodies retain memories of pain and trauma from the past but also hold spaces for healing and catharsis through movement and collective expression.
According to Laxe, he and his team deliberately subverted conventional filmmaking norms by incorporating elements of reality into the narrative. He recalls one of the DJs, Sebastian Vaughan AKA 69db, a key member of Spiral Tribe, sharing that "the music cannot stop for three days." This anecdote resonated with Laxe's vision for Sirāt, which promises to be an arthouse crossover hit.
At its core, Sirāt is a road movie about a modest family unit – Luis, his son Esteban, and their dog Pipa – embarking on a perilous search for a missing daughter. Their journey is complicated by news of an armed conflict in the region and the arrival of the army to dismantle the desert festival.
However, over time, the film's focus shifts away from the family's quest, delving into the spiritual significance of rave culture. Laxe views raving as a means of confronting mortality, echoing Sufi mysticism and gestalt psychotherapy principles. He posits that within this ecstatic experience lies a transcendence that dissolves the ego.
Laxe intentionally cast non-professional actors with disabilities to highlight the emotional imperfections of those seeking solace on the dancefloor. The film portrays rave culture as an environment where expression is uninhibited, allowing individuals to confront and release their emotions.
The score for Sirāt was composed by David Letellier AKA Kangding Ray, a respected underground producer who has worked with legendary experimentalist label Raster-Noton. Letellier drew upon his experiences in DIY and queer subcultures, where solidarity, resistance, and anti-authoritarian ethos were once prevalent.
During the production process, Letellier poured his emotions into crafting sounds that resonated with the on-screen narrative. He described his role as a sculptor who carves, polishes, cuts, or destroys sounds to evoke a disintegrating sonic landscape that gradually succumbs to dark ambient noise.
In one poignant moment, Luis grapples with devastation in his life, only to find solace in dancing amidst a low techno heartbeat. The film suggests that our bodies retain memories of pain and trauma from the past but also hold spaces for healing and catharsis through movement and collective expression.
just watched Sirāt online & I'm totally mesmerized by how it blends rave culture with existential themes 
like, i've never seen anything that makes me wanna get lost in the desert with a bunch of strangers 
but at the same time its so heavy on emotions & introspection... Luis's journey is all about confronting his demons & finding solace in the music 
what i love about this film is how it flips traditional narrative expectations & just dives headfirst into the chaos 
i mean like what's up with this film? it's so deep man... laxe is trying to say something about rave culture being a way to cope with mortality, but at the same time it feels like he's just trolling us with all these existential vibes 
. and those non-professional actors with disabilities? genius move dude, it's like he's forcing us to confront our own biases 
. but seriously, kangding ray's score is next level... i can already imagine this film being a wild ride of emotions 
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"The present is yours alone, and you have no right to look back." - Jean-Paul Sartre 
This film reminds me that our experiences are not just about us, but also about how they intersect with the world around us. The way Sirāt weaves together rave culture, family drama, and social commentary makes for a thought-provoking ride 
. But you know what really gets me is how Laxe is trying to use raving as a way to talk about mortality and transcendence... I'm not sure if that's gonna work for everyone, but it's definitely an interesting angle 
. Can't wait to see how all these elements come together in this film...
. And I gotta say, casting non-professional actors with disabilities was super inspiring - it's like they're showing us that anyone can find solace in the music 
. But what really got me was how the score just consumed you - it's like Kangding Ray took all these emotions and turned them into this dark, beautiful noise 
. I don't know if I'd call it a traditional "road movie" but there's something hauntingly beautiful about it... 
Like, can't we just enjoy a good story without having to analyze its deeper meaning? The music and score sound amazing, though - David Letellier's work is always so innovative. I'm definitely going to check out Sirāt when it comes out... but only if the whole "artistic statement" thing isn't going to be all over my head