Award-Winning Director Óliver Laxe Explores Moroccan Culture in Cannes Jury Prize Film ’Sirat’

Born in Paris in 1982, Óliver Laxe evokes his deep connection with Moroccan culture, a country where he spent a few years of his life. A strong bond that is felt in his film Sirat, which has just won the Jury Prize at Cannes. The film tells the story of a man who "searches for his daughter in raves or illegal parties lost in an endless desert. It’s a quest that is also destiny itself," he told El Mundo.

"I conceived this film to reach this young audience that has no reference points, that hasn’t been to the cinema for a long time, and that probably won’t understand my film. I hope that the images will have an effect on them and make them want to return to the cinema to see another film of this type. It really pleases me, to be honest, to reach these new audiences and for it to be a healthy relationship."

The Galician director also talks about reading the Quran. "The Quran intoxicates me. The Quran relieves me," said Óliver Laxe, who defines faith as "the human being’s capacity to accept life as it is, to see that in all the tragedies, accidents and obstacles that life puts in our way, there is mercy, a gift."

He adds: "In Spain, we are the children of three cultures and I clearly see that there are communicating vessels between us and Islam. [...] When I lived in Morocco, I realized that there was a continuity of values between what I found there and my Galician peasant family. Morocco is a neighboring country that has helped me, completed me, and I am grateful to it."