Incendies (2010)

Incendies (2010)                                                4/5

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin

In this French-Canadian drama, twins Jeanne (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) are each given a task after the death of their mother Nawal (Lubna Azabal): Jeanne must find their father whom they never knew, and Simon must find their brother whom they never even knew existed, to deliver a letter to each of them. The search sees them retracing their mother’s life growing up in a war-torn Middle Eastern country.

The plot is elegant, emotional, and superbly crafted. The character-driven narrative switches between the twins’ search and the mother’s life fluidly. The film is as simple as it is shocking, emotional yet contemplative.

Thematically, the film is well-focused with excellent use of symbolism. The theme of religion is particularly fascinating: it plays a major role in the plot, and yet Nawal herself says early on in the film, “We stand for peace. This is not about religion.” The theme pervades the film, taking the stance that peace should be more important than religion, especially in the face of war and death.

Visually, the film starts with difficulty, involving many shots which linger far past what is necessary, causing the frame to become stagnant. It becomes evident later on, however, that these techniques can be used for dramatic effect. For example, at various points during the film, a conversation will occur, but rather than using a long shot or a typical shot-reverse-shot, only one character will be shown. Early in the film, this seems unnecessary, but when used at a later point, the stylistic choice has proper context and adds dramatic emphasis to the plot as well as the dialogue.

The performances are brilliant, especially from the three main characters. Azabal plays her role with wonderful subtlety, adding dimensions of fear and determination to the strong-willed Nawal. Désormeaux-Poulin and Gaudette play off of one another spectacularly, creating a genuine sense of siblings supporting one another during such a difficult journey. In their individual scenes, the actors also find depth in their characters. Jeanne is strong-willed like her mother, but without the same harrowing life experiences she has a sense of naive exploration which, combined with the determination she also shares with her mother, allows her to push forward with her journey even when facing difficulty. Simon plays as a man who is resistant to the idea of following his mother’s past, not because he does not care, but because he is worried about what troubles he may uncover in her past.

Overall, the film is a moving piece about the trials of war and the search for one’s roots. Despite a lengthy buildup, the payoff is surprising and thought provoking. It is certainly not casual entertainment, but for anyone who enjoys foreign-language films with a strong message and an emotional plot, this film is exceptional.

This review was requested by Mary Vickers.

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