Morocco Rave Film's Oscar Nominated Sound Design

The acclaimed road movie 'Sirāt' by director Óliver Laxe has achieved two Oscar nominations: Best International Feature and Best Sound. This sound nomination is historic, marking the first-ever all-female slate of nominees in the category. The film follows a father and son searching for a daughter within Morocco's rave community.

The sound design for 'Sirāt' presented significant logistical challenges. Since music could not be paused during filming at the desert rave, sound designer Laia Casanovas and her team recreated all audio elements in a studio in Barcelona months later. This involved re-recording production sounds, crowd voices with actors from across Europe, and even the score composed by Kangding Ray.

Casanovas aimed to balance realism with the primal and obscure, drawing inspiration from filmmakers like David Lynch. Field recordings from the deserts of Spain and Morocco, capturing the nuances of wind and bass frequencies, were integral to the film's atmosphere. A particularly tense minefield scene utilized subtle acoustics to heighten the characters' anxiety and isolation, manipulating sound mix to convey distance and proximity.

The team's historic Oscar nomination as an all-female sound crew is a significant achievement. Casanovas expressed pride in their accomplishment, emphasizing the natural collaboration and shared passion for their work. 'Sirāt' has resonated with audiences, sparking emotional and varied interpretations since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and subsequent release in Spain.