INCENDIES (2010)

Summary:

Incendies is a powerful and harrowing Canadian drama that follows the journey of twins Jeanne and Simon Marwan as they fulfill their mother Nawal's dying wish. Upon her death, Nawal's will instructs them to deliver two letters: one to their father, whom they believed to be dead, and another to a brother they never knew existed. This quest takes them from their quiet Canadian lives back to their mother's war-torn homeland in the Middle East, where they uncover a tragic family history steeped in violence, secrets, and profound love.

As the twins delve deeper into Nawal's past, they piece together a mosaic of her life as a refugee, a political prisoner, and a mother forced to make impossible choices amidst a brutal civil war. The film masterfully weaves together past and present narratives, revealing the devastating impact of conflict on individuals and generations, ultimately leading to a shocking and unforgettable revelation that redefines their understanding of family, identity, and the cycle of hatred.

Keywords: Incendies, 2010, Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Drama, War, Mystery.

Plot:

Following the death of their mother, Nawal Marwan, twins Jeanne and Simon are summoned to the office of notary Jean Lebel. Lebel informs them of Nawal's unusual will: she is to be buried naked and face down, and her children are each tasked with delivering a letter. Jeanne must find their father, whom they believed died years ago, and Simon must find a brother they never knew existed. Initially resistant, Simon refuses to participate, but Jeanne, a math student, feels compelled to honor her mother's request and travels to the Middle East, to a country resembling Lebanon, to begin her search.

Jeanne's journey into her mother's past uncovers a horrifying narrative. She learns that Nawal was a Christian who fell in love with a Muslim refugee, leading to his murder by her brothers. Pregnant, Nawal was forced to give up her firstborn son, Nihad, to an orphanage. Later, she becomes a fierce resistance fighter and a sniper known as "The Woman Who Sings" during the civil war. Her activism leads to her imprisonment in Kfar Ryat prison, where she endures years of torture and abuse, including sexual violence by a notorious guard known as Abou Tarek.

Simon eventually joins Jeanne, spurred by the growing revelations and a desire to understand their mother. They discover that Nawal gave birth to twins in prison, Jeanne and Simon, after being raped by Abou Tarek. The most devastating truth emerges when they learn that Abou Tarek is not only their biological father but also their long-lost brother, Nihad, who grew up to become a brutal torturer for the militia. Nawal's life was a cycle of profound loss and unspeakable trauma, culminating in the horrific realization that her firstborn son was also the father of her second set of children.

The twins are left to grapple with this unbearable truth. They find Nihad, who is now a seemingly ordinary man working as a school bus driver, scarred by his own past. Jeanne and Simon deliver the two letters: one from Nawal to her "father" (Nihad, as the father of her twins) and one to her "son" (Nihad, as her firstborn). The letters, filled with a complex mix of love, forgiveness, and pain, bring a semblance of closure to Nawal's tormented soul and a new, harrowing understanding for her surviving children.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Lubna Azabal as Nawal Marwan
• Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin as Jeanne Marwan
• Maxim Gaudette as Simon Marwan
• Rémy Girard as Notary Jean Lebel
• Abdelghafour Elaaziz as Abou Tarek / Nihad Harmanni

Crew:

• Director: Denis Villeneuve
• Screenplay: Denis Villeneuve (based on the play by Wajdi Mouawad)
• Producers: Luc Déry, Kim McCraw
• Music: Grégoire Hetzel
• Cinematography: André Turpin
• Film Editing: Monique Dartonne

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: 3 September 2010 (Venice Film Festival)
• Language: French, Arabic
• Genre: Drama, War, Mystery
• Running Time: 131 minutes
• Accolades: Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards; Won eight Genie Awards, including Best Motion Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Lubna Azabal), and Best Adapted Screenplay.