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United States, Lebanon · 2022
1h 20m
Director Rita Baghdadi
Starring Lilas Mayassi, Shery Bechara
Genre Documentary
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True to their name, Slave to Sirens — the first and only all-woman thrash metal band in the Middle East — are utterly magnetic. Amid a backdrop of political unrest and the heartbreaking unraveling of Beirut, the five bandmates form a beacon of expression, resistance, and independence.
Consequence by Clint Worthington
For as choppy as Sirens can be in its too-short 78-minute runtime, it’s easy to chalk that up to the difficulties of filming during COVID. But what we do get is certainly crowd-pleasing, a riotous doc that combines likable personalities with thrumming guitar licks and its subjects’ relatable yearning to find their voice and their power.
The Hollywood Reporter by Dan Fienberg
Wanting more is a criticism, but it’s a luxury criticism. This documentary builds a world you want to explore further.
The Playlist by Jonathan Christian
Baghdadi’s affection for cherishing quaint moments overwhelms the opportunity to fuse the band’s affable charm to a well-rounded depiction of modern-day Middle Eastern women existing on the fringes of their culture.
With the band’s headstrong co-founders leading their tale, Sirens is a powerful reminder that punk isn’t dead if you know where to look.
Thought-provoking, beautifully edited and told, Sirens explores the band members’ relationship with each other, gender, and conformity in a society that isn’t always open about such things.
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