Surreal Sisterhood: A Closer Look at MUBI's Latest Release, September Says (2025)

When September is suspended from their school, her sister July begins to assert her own independence. Tension in the family builds whilst on holiday in Ireland as a series of surreal encounters test them all to their limit.

Directed by Ariane Labed who you may know as Yorgos Lanthimos’ wife or having starred in Attenberg (2010). Ariane is an incredibly interesting filmmaker who explores the line between comfort and discomfort, similarly to her husband. 

September Says (2025) is adaptation of Daisy Johnson's modern gothic novel about two sisters with a dangerously close bond. The film explores the idea of connection, manipulation and stepping outside your comfort zone.This film is surreal but it also has themes of coming of age. Merging surrealist themes with a coming of age story isn’t easy but September Says (2025) is able to confuse you whilst simultaneously intriguing you. The sisters have a co-dependent relationship and rely on one another to no end, almost ignoring their own mother and suffocating each other with love and affection. 

September and July’s relationship was confusing to watch unfold, you were kept on your toes wondering what was going to happen between the pair. At times I thought something sinister would take place, one sister attacks the other but as the story develops you realise September’s cruel approach to her sister is to protect her. 

As the story develops and their girls learn more about themselves, we are punched in the face with a heartbreaking conclusion. September has been dead since the beginning on the film and we have only been witnessing an aspiration of her through July’s mind. This realisation was deeply saddening, the concept that July could only continue with her life if she imagined her sister but also the realisation that July ignored the fact her sister was dead. Although the film was confusing at times and made me feel a little uncomfortable the core theme is love, a bond between sisters that simply cannot be broken and I was able to identify with that. 

September Says (2025) surprised me, at times I was hesitant to enjoy this film as I feared something too strange would unfold but instead it kept me on my toes. The film kept me guessing and ultimately the ending was so far from what I was imagining, it surprised me and saddened me to my core. September Says (2025) is an interesting story of sisterhood and family, it pushes the boundaries of siblings and will leave you cringing and questioning their  sanity. 

Probe Points

★★★☆☆