Incendies is a Canadian film. It is directed by Denis Villeneuve who claims that the title refers to an inferno that leaves something totally destroyed, totally transformed. Destruction that you cannot change afterwards. This is a combination of family drama, political thriller and survival saga. It is based on a play of Lebanon-born writer Wajdi Mouawad.

Incendies is a bonafide masterpiece. As simple as the reality. It is irony that it is one of the best films about the Middle East conflict, specifically the tragic civil war in Lebanon. In fact there is no specific mention of any country in the film. But no one can doubt that the unnamed country is Lebanon.

Incendies tells the story of a Canadian-Lebanese woman who dies in Canada. In her will she leaves two letters to her twin son & daughter. They have to deliver one to their brother (who’s existence they did not know) and the other to their father (whom they had presumed dead). To find these people, they have to travel to Lebanon to unravel the mysterious past of their deceased mother. As we follow their search, flashbacks slowly reveal the key moments in the life of their mother.

Incendies is absolutely convincing. It has very intense images and words. It has a very slow pace and sad atmosphere. The movie begins calmly but the tension rises very fast soon. You really feel more and more with the tragic characters that make you cry. It makes you angry, and it shocks you.

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There are extremely powerful and unforgettable scenes in Incendies. Suffice to say that even if you have no interest in the history of Middle East, this film will grab your attention from the start and grips you tight till the end.

Lubna Azabal gives an incredibly intense performance as Nawal. She portrays a resilient woman whose life is smeared with so much blood. She turns to anger as a way out. Melissa Desormeauz-Poulin puts in a stellar performance as her daughter Jeanne. She wants to connect with her mother by learning all there is to know about her.

Incendies is picturesque, memorable in every scene, surprising, tense and mysterious in parts. Villeneuve portrays a vulnerable and curious vision from Nawal’s viewpoint. It is applicable to any person regardless of religion and political parties but sharing the same circumstances. For someone who is unaware of the conflict of the Middle East, the narration carries no judgement as to innocence and guilt or what may be considered right or wrong. As with war in general it is a personal perspective which highlights how one’s worst enemy can also be a precious part of oneself. It is the story of struggling women, star-crossed lovers and suffering mothers and the personal journey of a life, and family legend, tainted by war and society.Don’t miss this masterpiece, watch it at earliest.

Review by: Aqib Raza
My rating: 4.5/5