Art house type of movies is not for everyone. So I watched “Incendies” alone while Cynthia was having a haircut. I only had a vague idea of what this movie is about when I bought the ticket. I left the theater shaken, deeply moved. This could well be one of the best movies I have watched this year.
The story begins at a will reading session. The twins’ mother last wish is to be buried naked, face down, without a casket and without a gravestone. Not only that. The twins were being handed two letters. The sister has to deliver the envelope to their father and the brother to their elder brother. Only upon delivering these letters can they receive a final letter from their mother and place a gravestone on her resting place. To make things more intriguing, the twins are not aware that they have an elder brother and their father is still alive. This sets out a journey of discovering their mother’s past and prompts them to travel from Quebec to the Middle East.
While the mother of this story is dead, she is brought to life by the movie. The storytelling and the filmography is a masterpiece. Past and present incidents are juxtaposed in no particular order. But yet, even though some scenes may feel fragmented, the movie tells a cohesive story so full of impact and unexpected twists. And because the location overlaps and the mother and daughter do look a like, it is the subtle differences on screen that give hints to the story’s timeline.
“Incendies” is full of raw emotions. There are emotions coming from the actors and actresses. And there are emotions coming from the destruction of war and the conflict between two religions. The storyteller is clever in not specifying a particular country in the Middle East. The focus of the story is conflict, not to be distracted by local politics.
“Incendies” may not be one of those French movies that upon reaching the end, you see the entire story in a whole different light. But it is one movie that leaves a scorching scar that you will remember for a long time. It is still an art house type of movie. Some may find it slow. I am finding it powerful and moving.
10 replies on “Incendies: Powerful And Moving”
Oh!!! Thanks for introducing this. This looks like the movie for me! I’ll book it now. Thanks!
JoV – Do you like art house type of movies? It may get a bit slow though. Alas, people these days are so overstimulated by Hollywood type of movies.
I am keen to hear your view on this movie.
Incendies will be released on DVD in the UK this 12 Sept and I’m waiting…. *drumming my finger *
JoV – One thing I love countries like UK is that you know in advance which date what will be released. At least you can anticipate.
Unlike here.
When are you going to watch “Biutiful” by the way? I think it has the same impact as Incendies.
JoV – “Biutiful”? I haven’t seen this showing in Singapore though …
not even on DVD?
JoV – We may have missed the movie. It is a Spanish movie! I think I must get a DVD from somewhere hahaha.
I watched the movie yesterday. It is terribly disturbing but as you said powerful. My take-away is that human being have to break the chain of anger, otherwise the anger creates many victims who then themselves became perpetrators and that some things are best left unknown than knowing the truth, I agree wholeheartedly with the Janitor who used to be the guard of Kfar Ryat prison.
Thanks for introducing this movie, now I couldn’t get it out of my head! 🙂
Amelia – You beat me to watching your recommended “Biutiful” hehe. I bought the DVD but still haven’t got the time to watch it.
I am glad to hear that you do enjoy watching this movie 🙂