Sirāt

In the stark and desolate landscape of southern Morocco, a vibrant rave erupts, with a mass of people dancing rhythmically to pulsating electronic beats. Among the crowd, a man named Luis and his son Esteban courageously distribute flyers bearing the photograph of a missing woman—who is their daughter and sister, Mar—hoping to find her amidst the chaos. Their efforts catch the attention of a small subgroup of ravers, including characters like Stefania Gadda, Jade, Tonin, Bigui, and Josh. These ravers inform Luis and Esteban that there’s another rave happening further into the desert, possibly where Mar might be hiding. They suggest that the missing woman could still be at that clandestine gathering deep in the sands.

Suddenly, a group of soldiers arrives, abruptly dispersing the rave and ordering the Europeans to evacuate immediately. Chaos ensues as the ravers make a narrow escape, fleeing in two vans and leaving the convoy behind. Luis and Esteban, accompanied by their loyal dog Pipa, follow in a smaller van. During this tense escape, radio reports indicate that an armed conflict between two nations has ignited, escalating tensions worldwide. Despite protests from other ravers who urge them to stay back, Luis and Esteban remain determined to catch up with the group and find Mar.

As they head south towards a location near Mauritania, the journey becomes a series of unexpected events that test their resilience and foster an unlikely bond. The group experiences mishaps, including Pipa falling ill—likely from ingesting feces contaminated with LSD—and they cross a river navigating treacherous terrain. Throughout their ordeal, they share food, fuel, and moments of camaraderie. Tonin entertains the others by improvising a musical number, while his prosthetic leg becomes part of a puppet show that lightens the mood amid chaos.

While traversing a mountain pass, one of the vans becomes stuck, forcing the group to work together to fix it. Sadly, tragedy strikes when Esteban and Pipa fall off a cliff in the process, losing both to the depths below. Deeply shocked, Luis continues alone into the desert, where he is ultimately rescued by Jade and Stef.

The remaining members, seeking solace and perhaps a way out, deploy a psychoactive drug and launch an impromptu rave in the desert, amplifying their desperation with loudspeakers. Jade, in her trance, tragically steps on a landmine and dies, followed swiftly by Tonin, who meets the same fate in an attempt to approach her. The group quickly realizes they have entered a minefield, and their focus shifts to escape. They attempt to use vans without drivers to forge a safe path through the deadly terrain, but one after another, the vehicles trigger mines, resulting in explosions that decimate their chances of escape.

Despite the devastating setbacks, Luis manages to walk in a straight line into a nearby rocky area, seemingly avoiding the mines. He is joined by Bigui, who sacrifices himself, followed by Stef and Josh, who trust their instincts and follow the others with their eyes shut. In the end, the survivors are seen crossing the vast desert on the roof of a train, along with other survivors, as they cling to hope amidst the wreckage of their ordeal.

This haunting story captures the chaos of war, the fragility of human life, and the strange and desperate search for meaning amid destruction. It is a stark exploration of survival against overwhelming odds, set against a backdrop of natural beauty and brutal conflict.

Last Updated: August 19, 2025 at 05:16