Review: Incendies (2010)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Starring: Lubna Azabal Mélissa, Désormeaux-Poulin

The plot follows Canadian twins who travel to their mother's native country in the Middle East to uncover her hidden past amidst a bloody civil war

Denis Villeneuve is one of my favorite directors. Not only does he have a film every year, but every year his films have been consistently good and well directed. As for one of his older films, Incendies, it is no exception. It is fantastic, and it definitely proves why Villeneuve is one of the best directors working today.

The plot while simple, is engaging and also elevated with it's complex narrative structure. The story consists of different chapters, that jump between past and present by using flashbacks, and uses distinct titles to distinguish them. This story engages you, as the story and mystery unfolds in front of you. The directing once again is fantastic by Villeneuve, in what is considered his best work (I still think Blade Runner 2049 is my favorite Villeneuve film). The acting was phenomenal from the most part, and were really compelling.

The gritty cinematography done by André Turpin, beautifully showcases the deserts of Daresh. I am to say this, I am a native Arabic speaker, and I have to admit this is some good Arabic being spoken in this film. Some of the other films I've seen don't even try to pronounce the word correctly, so fair play Incendies. The pacing is smooth, and never for the most part felt slow (at least to me personally) The music is also impactful in certain scenes, but apart from that it's pretty forgettable. The themes of religious divide, trauma, and even tragedy play a role in the film and are expressed really realistically.

The film went on to be nominated for many awards, including the nomination for Best Foreign Film at the 83rd Academy Awards. The film also went on to win eight Genie Awards, including Best Picture.

In conclusion, Incendies is another masterful film directed by a masterclass director that is Denis Villeneuve. Once watching this film, you'll never keep your eyes off of it. A well-paced thriller that will truly blow your mind.

My rating: 9.5/10

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