Incendies

130 minutes

Canada

92%

When notary Lebel (Amy Girard) sits down with Jeanne and Simon Marwan (Melissa Dasormeaux Poulin, Maxim Gaudette) to read them their mother Nawal's will (Lubna Azabal), the twins are stunned to receive a pair of envelopes -- one for the father they thought was dead and another for a brother they didn't know existed. In this enigmatic inheritance, Jeanne sees the key to Nawal's retreat into unexplained silence during the final weeks of her life. She immediately decides to go to the Middle East to dig into a family history of which she knows next to nothing. Simon is unmoved by their mother's posthumous mind games. However, the love he has for his sister is strong, and he soon joins her in combing their ancestral homeland in search of a Nawal who is very different from the mother they knew. With Lebel's help, the twins piece together the story of the woman who brought them into the world, discovering a tragic fate as well as the courage of an exceptional woman. An adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad's hit play, INCENDIES is a deeply moving story that brings the extremism and violence of today's world to a starkly personal level, delivering a powerful and poetic testament to the uncanny power of the will to survive.

starring...

Lubna Azabal

Nawal Marwan

Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin

Jeanne Marwan

Maxim Gaudette

Simon Marwan

Rémy Girard

Notaire Jean Lebel

Director

Denis Villeneuve

Writer

Denis Villeneuve

Cinematography

André Turpin

Editing

Monique Dartonne

Production Design

André-Line Beauparlant

Music

Grégoire Hetzel

96% on the CINEMETER

96% - Apr 3, 2011

This was one of the best movies I have ever seen. The mystery, the timing, the music- all so beautiful. Radiohead's music was quite effective. Impressive acting as well.
Washington, DC Member

Wonderful, thoughtful, evocative of place and events. The big screen pictures and sounds took me to the crunch of rubble and desolation in mideast war-torn cities.
Washington, DC Member

I feel devastated! Best film of the season! Magnificent.
Washington, DC Member

STL

93% - Apr 3, 2011

Amazing Film! Shook me to the core and will stay with me forever. Tremendously complex exploration into the mathematical, scientific, political, and philosophical connectedness and causation--yet still intensely human and humane!
St. Louis Member

Genius script. Haunting interweaving of the violence, the horror, and the relentlessness of war on the human struggle for love, family, survival and hope. Powerful anti-war film. Powerful way to look at the ultimate destructions because of anger.
St. Louis Member

I hope the message of this film is understood and embraced by everyone who sees it--it does not matter what country you are from, what religion you are, what language you speak--what matters is what you do in your life to bring love and peace. This is the kind of film I love to see at the Club.
St. Louis Member

97% - Mar 27, 2011

Excellent editing between sequences depicting Narwal and Jeanne. Gasp taken by Jeanne felt real, as if she sucked a breath out of my lungs. The message about breaking the cycle of anger was poetic!
Greater New Haven Member

This is a movie that will stay with me for a long time.
Greater New Haven Member

A sprawling, haunting and visually-arresting tale of the redemptive power of family and the human spirit. Despite that the twist in the third act seemed a bit forced, INCENDIES is not just one of the most engrossing and well-made films I've seen at the Club, but one of the most engrossing and well-made films I've seen in a long time.
Greater New Haven Member

MIL

97% - Apr 17, 2011

I thought this was the most provocative and powerful film of the series.
Milwaukee Member

Complicated story that tied up in a tragic yet brilliant way!
Milwaukee Member

This film is extraordinary and compelling. It's with hindsight that we can approach and tell these shocking stories. Many horrible histories are happening right now. If only we could learn these lessons to avoid them.
Milwaukee Member

BOS

95% - Mar 27, 2011

Best film of the season. One of the best films of the year. Excellent. Very powerful. Amazing story, well told. Absorbing. Well integrated flash-backs and forwards.
Boston Member

Pace extremly fitting. Superb cinematography. Wrenching, but great. Very well done.
Boston Member

Wonderful, very effecting. Powerful, moving, thought-provoking. Outstanding storytelling. Engrossing, well worth seeing. Thank you!
Boston Member

BOCA

98% - Apr 10, 2011

One of the most powerful movies I have ever seen.
Boca Raton Member

Powerful and compelling story of middle east conflict--women always suffer, when men make war. The acting was superb.
Boca Raton Member

So very compelling to watch. Very powerful, deeply moving and how traumatic. Excellent.
Boca Raton Member

ATL

96% - Apr 3, 2011

Wow. I'm emotionally drained.
Atlanta Member

By far, the most intense film-going experience I've had in some time. It is the type of film I joined cinema club for over 12 years ago. Beautifully shot and acted; touching the depth of so many emotions.
Atlanta Member

A very demanding film, but worth the effort.
Atlanta Member

Sony Pictures Classics