Neon had a very strong Cannes — they’re practically running the fest these days, and collecting Palme d’Or contenders like infinity stones. Six editions in a row.
While much of the chatter has centered on Neon’s “Sentimental Value” and “It Was Just an Accident” — Cannes’ top two prizewinners and current Oscar darlings — the competition film that, for my money, outclassed them was Oliver Laxe’s “Sirât.”
It was announced today that “Sirât” will open in New York and Los Angeles on November 14 for a one-week qualifying run, before expanding nationwide in January.
Don’t expect it to be an Oscar contender — it’s far too uncompromising for that. Laxe’s latest doesn’t pander to audience expectations; it’s pure, unfiltered extreme cinema.
In fact, for my money, “Sirât” was the best film I saw at Cannes. A bomb of creative cinema, it doesn’t so much play by the rules as it tears them up, offering a formally bold, emotionally charged vision that left some stunned and others shaken.
The film continues Laxe’s deep dive into mysticism and the human psyche — this time set against the thumping pulse of a Moroccan rave. Sergi López stars as a father searching for his missing daughter, alongside Bruno Núñez, Stefania Gadda, and Jade Oukid. The film is produced by none other than Pedro Almodóvar and his El Deseo banner.
“Sirât” will screen at TIFF, NYFF, and a slew of other fall festivals, many of which I’m sure our readers will have the chance to attend. My advice is simple: skip the trailer and avoid synopses — go in knowing as little as possible. This is a film best experienced blind, letting its raw power, imagery, and mood catch you off guard.