Premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, actor-turned-director Ariane Labed’s debut feature, September Says, is a dark and intense drama about the bond between two sisters. The film has already caught the attention of audiences worldwide in multiple film festivals and has received praise for its haunting storyline and unique visual style.
The film is currently being screened at the BFI London Film Festival 2024 under First Feature Competition in which the Sutherland Award recognizes the most original and imaginative directorial debut.
What’s the film September Says about? (Synopsis)
September Says, adapted from Daisy Johnson’s novel ‘Sisters,’ explores the complex relationship between two teenage sisters, July and September. The two are inseparable, living in a world of their own, where September, the older sister, is overprotective and dominating. As July begins to forge her own identity, the close-knit bond unravels, resulting in heightened tensions and conflicts.
Pascale Kann, Rakhee Thakrar and Mia Tharia in “September Says”
The story develops when their single mother, Sheela, transports them to an old family house in Ireland following a school incident. The remote setting intensifies their emotions, and the sisters’ bonding evolves in unexpected ways, pushing the boundaries of their relationship. Labed’s direction brings out the eerie atmosphere and emotional depth, making it a visually stunning and emotionally charged tale of sisterhood, independence, and self-discovery.
Who is the director of September Says?
Ariane Labed is a Greek-French actress and film director. She is best recognized for her feature film début in Attenberg, for which she won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress, as well as her appearance in Helen Edmundson’s Mary Magdalene in 2018. September Says is her directorial debut, demonstrating her talent behind the camera in an engaging and artistically imaginative manner.
Who are in the cast of September Says?
September Says stars Mia Tharia as July, Pascale Kann as September, and Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education) as their mother, Sheela. The three actresses deliver superb performances that bring the family’s complex dynamics to life. Mia Tharia and Pascale Kann show the sisters’ deep, sometimes unsettling closeness, while Rakhee Thakrar plays a mother torn between her love for her daughters and her inability to handle the tension between them.
Watch a teaser/trailer below:
Credits:
Directed and Written (screenplay) by Ariane Labed
Based on the novel Sisters by Daisy Johnson
Cast: Mia Tharia, Pascale Kann, Rakhee Thakrar
Cinematography: Balthazar Lab
Country: Ireland, United Kingdom, Germany
Year: 2024
