by Christos Zabounis

Fans of techno or EDM (Electronic Dance Music) will be ecstatic. For ten full minutes, the characteristic repetitive four-on-the-floor beat floods the cinema auditorium, creating the atmosphere of a full-blown rave party. This takes place in a desert in southern Morocco, where the “tripping” ravers appear lost in their own world. Within this hypnotic frame, a weary father emerges, searching – together with his son – for his estranged daughter. Sergi López, who plays the central role, is best known to us from mainly French comedies, while he has also starred in a large number of Spanish films, his country of origin. The director, Oliver Laxe Coro, is also Franco-Spanish and, at the age of 44, is an Oscar nominee for Best International Feature Film with Sirat. He was previously awarded the Jury Prize (Prix du Jury) at the Cannes Film Festival. Greek film critics – an occupational group that has recently found itself under fire, courtesy of “Kapodistrias” – were, for once, in agreement. This is the surprise of the year. For those of us who grew up with this psychedelic music genre before moving on to the quintessence of classical music, as well as for those who continue to “psychedelicize” regardless of age, the sound of Berlin-based Kangding Ray will prove mesmerizing. For pure cinephiles, the presence of Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar’s signature on the production will offer reassurance. Out of respect for potential viewers, we will refrain from revealing the “war-like” twist that takes place midway through the film. Leaving the theater, however, one will unconsciously catch oneself nodding one’s head up and down – just like the ravers in the desert.