This French-Canadian slow-burner, written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, will pull you in with one of the best movie beginnings of all time – and its outstanding ending will leave you shaken. To fulfill their mother’s last wish after her sudden death in Montreal, the two twins Jeanne and Simon must travel separately to an unnamed Middle-Eastern country (with strong resemblances to civil-war-torn Lebanon) to deliver letters to close relatives they never knew they had. The twins’ quest into a dark and staggering family history makes them experience themselves and the violence of war like they had never imagined. Their ordeal is interrupted by a series of flashbacks telling the story of their mother, Nawal Marwan, before leading them to uncover a deeply disturbing secret. Based on Wajdi Mouawad's 2003 play of the same name, this melodramatic war thriller takes a poetic and poignant look at how families are shaped by atrocities – even long the after wars that produced them have ended.
Synopsis
A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.
My GOAT
Cannot believe I haven’t seen this movie till now a wonderful experience to say the least
I’d put this movie in an S tier right away. The story is beyond mind blowing and it will make your mind running from the very first scene, to the last.
Very touching story, and not at all removed from the harsh reality of wars in the Middle East. Quite shocking too. All the actors did a marvelous job! Strongly recommended.
This is the best Movie I think I have ever watched and I am writing this 3 months after I saw it. This is genius.
It’s a brilliantly crafted plot that I enjoyed from start to finish. Intense, smart, and gripping.
Difficult to put into words what the experience of watching this movie was like for me. An absolute masterpiece. Everything about it was superb. Characters, performances, story, shooting. Everything. One of the best, if not the best film I’ve seen in my life.
Wow. Just. Wow. There are very few nits to pick with this film. It is carefully paced with very good cinematography and just enough detail to force viewers to interact with the story in meaningful manners. And the last twenty minutes? Interesting. Very interesting.
This movie is masterpiece in every category. A Must Watch
it’s just hard not to get mind blown by the end of it. Absolute must-watch.
A sublime movie whose beauty is both omnipresent and heartbreaking. It’s about time, sorrow, intergenerational development… Just a masterpiece.
Jesus Christ, this movie. Just shut up, sit there, and watch this movie. Then ponder about what you have just seen. 5/5
Fabulous. Riveting. Introspective. A film that points out that we never really know our parents. That people can live many lifetimes. That humans can be strong beyond strength.