eddie_baggins Want to see where one of the modern era's hottest directing streaks started? If you do, then Incendies in the film for you.Directed by Denis Villeneuve, who went from this French/Canadian co-production to move onto Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario, Arrival and last year's brilliant sequel Blade Runner 2049, Incendies is the Oscar nominated film that put Villeneuve on the path he finds himself on now and remains a film of substantial power these years on from initial release.Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's play of the same name, Incendies is a multi-layered narrative that spans both numerous countries and numerous characters over various timelines but Villeneuve controls his film perfectly as the mystery that lays at the heart of this tale about family, war, life and death never gets muddled as we're drawn further and further into a film that wraps us up in its web and refuses to let us go.There's not the abundance of filmmaking and visual flair that Villeneuve has started to become known for over his more recent Hollywood productions but Incendies power comes almost exclusively from Villeneuve's deft hand with his performers, his handling of a script that other filmmakers would struggle to bring to life and his ability to slowly ebb out more information as we go, that by the time we come to realise just what lays in store for the films characters, the power of Incendies becomes even more apparent.Saying to much about this story would be a disservice to a film that takes many various turns and pivots. Essentially at its core, a story of both twins Jeanne and Simon Marwan trying to uncover the secret of their father they've never met and find a brother they never knew they had after their Middle Eastern born mother Nawal passes away, Incendies becomes so much more than a typical family drama as it showcases time in the conflict of the Israeli and Palestinian Holy Wars, as well as the twins journey back to their country of nationality.The film in many ways showcases a different side to Villeneuve and proves the director is just as at home handling a $150 million plus Sci-Fi for a major Hollywood studio as he is behind the camera of a small intimate drama that is driven purely by its narrative and characters. Proof the filmmaker is a man of many talents and a director to be cherished by those that love cinema.Final Say - For any fans of Villeneuve's work, world cinema or powerful character driven dramas, then Incendies should be a film you seek out as soon as possible. Losing none of its power since its initial release, this sometimes hard to watch but always enthralling film is standout filmmaking and the official blasting off point for one of the modern era's great filmmakers.5 swimming pools out of 5

Anssi Vartiainen Twins, who have just recently lost their mother, travel to Middle-East to search for their father, who they've believed dead, and their brother, who they didn't even now existed. At the same time we follow their mother in her youth in the middle of a bloody, religious civil war.I don't particularly care for Denis Villeneuve as a director. His scifi films, Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival, have both been decent, with the former edging into being downright good, but his more realistic drama films have always left me feeling unclean. Too much grittiness, too nasty a tone, too much needless misery, bleakness and depression. In Villeneuve's hands the world shows itself as a grey place, where even the most decent people hide monsters within and the only justification for existing is sheer lack of choices. Not something I want to subject myself to, if given a choice.That being said, this film works pretty well. Perhaps it's the background of war, but somehow Villeneuve's usual tricks didn't bother me as much. It's perhaps a bit weird that war is the justifier for all these horrible things, but the fact still remains that while it was still horrible, it didn't feel over-excessive.Except for that ending. I saw it coming. I saw it coming a long way ahead. How, you may ask. I simply imagined to most nasty turn the film could take. The one that would make me gag. And there it was. The worst part is that it doesn't even make sense within the film. The story has to bend over backwards for these events to take place and it completely shatters the suspension of disbelief. And for what? Did Villeneuve really want for his audience to throw up that badly?Then again, the film is very well done. The first half is told phenomenally well. The characters are interesting and the horrors of war are given their just due. It's just that ending...I think I'm done with this guy. Please, no more.

Aditya Rao Just finished watching incendies after reading so many good things about this movie..honestly this film has left me a bit disturbed...completely shakes you as a viewer....the screenplay, writing was so seamless... so was the direction and the excellent performances from the actors..the quest of the protagonist to find her brother and her father is simply phenomenal. i am surprised how this film didn't win Oscar.. it's a great film...really moving and disturbing..very difficult to make a film like this indeed and also to act in it.. Hats off to the makers..

rojda you can see both the reality of living in middle east and struggle of a women. to me; it definitely worth watching. you can never guess the end of movie and you can't even move your eyes for a while after turning off your device. it is one of the best movies I have ever watched. but unfortunately, it couldn't reach a wide audience.