"Take heart, all will be well," reassured the voice. "But what exactly are you implying…?" Mubi has unveiled a second official trailer for "September Says," an enigmatic and gripping thriller set against the backdrop of Ireland, centering on two enigmatic sisters. Having premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section last year, this film is poised for a cinematic release by Mubi.
When September faces school suspension, her sibling, July, embarks on a journey of self-discovery and independence. As they vacation in Ireland, familial tensions escalate, fueled by a series of surreal encounters that push them to their very limits. This haunting exploration of sisterhood is penned and directed by Ariane Labed, a Greek-French actress and filmmaker making her feature directorial debut after a sole short film. Mia Tharia and Pascale Kann star as the two sisters, joined by Rakhee Thakrar, bringing Daisy Johnson's novel "Sisters" to life.
Last year, "September Says" garnered predominantly favorable reviews at numerous film festivals, being described as "an elegantly disoriented narrative of two sisters that, in its tart and tense dissection of co-dependency and the isolation it fosters, resonates with Athina Rachel Tsangari's mesmerizing 'Attenberg' and the darkly absurdist satires of Yorgos Lanthimos." This film undeniably stands out as uniquely dark, unusual, and captivating – take a glimpse below.
Sisters July and September are inseparable, albeit vastly different – September is protective and wary of others, whereas July is open-minded and inquisitive about the world. Their complex relationship concerns their single mother, Sheela, who finds herself uncertain about how to handle them. Following September's suspension from school, July is left to navigate on her own, asserting her independence – a change that does not escape September's notice. As the trio seeks refuge in an old holiday home in Ireland, tensions escalate, with July realizing that her bond with September is shifting in ways she can neither fully comprehend nor control. A series of surreal encounters tests the family to their utmost limits.
Written and directed by Ariane Labed, "September Says" marks her feature directorial debut following a single short film. It is adapted from Daisy Johnson's novel titled "Sisters," produced by Ed Guiney, Lara Hickey, Chelsea Morgan Hoffmann, and Andrew Lowe. Having premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Mubi will release Labed's "September Says" in selected theaters in 2025 – check your local listings for screening details.
