Incendies (2010)

In French, incendies means fire or destruction by fire. Fire is a curse and a blessing – the flames engulf, while the light illuminates. Incendies is similarly double-edged, for it too deals in death and destruction, but there is a strong sense of life and living, and admiration for those who summon up the courage to see another day.

A mother is dead, and the will she has left behind holds the key to her past, and to the identities of her children’s father and their brother. Incendies is the journey of Jeanne and Simon, twins who are handed this ‘mystery,’ couched in the form of their mother Nawal Marwan’s will. The reluctance and disbelief with which the twins begin their journey, soon turns into a gripping tale that rocks you with its violence and softens you with its compassion.

Incendies first came into existence as a play by Wajdi Mouawad, titled Scorched. The French Canadian cinematic version is written and directed by Denis Villenevue. It stars Lubna Azabal in the lead character, with Melissa Desormeaux-Poulin and Maxim Gaudette as the twins. Among the film’s many accolades and awards is a nomination for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2011 Academy Awards.

The journey begins with a will

The twins’ journey is personal, but as with many things in life, they cannot separate their search from the socio-political turbulence of their country’s past. The remnants of mindless violence are everywhere; ex-prison guards, refugee camps, warlords, communal bonds shattered by mistrust and a refusal to acknowledge the damage to the human psyche litter this narrative.

The people who help Jeanne and Simon have their own stories to tell. They have balanced right and wrong as much as they can within volatile situations, and now live with those memories. The twins must acknowledge and understand the tensions, the motivations, the desperation and the helplessness of these people, in their attempt to piece their mother’s story. Most of all, they must come to terms with who she was, what she did, and why she made the choices she did.

The film is full of tension. You feel like standing at the edge of a precipice, never knowing whether someone is going to push you or help you to safety. Life is difficult and dangerous. Violence seems to be the easiest way to resolve any situation threatening to upend the status quo, challenge authority or bring about change. Communities are divided along religious, racial and ethnic lines, and while the politicians play out their games, the people appear gripped by intolerance, misunderstanding and divisive rhetoric. 

Who was she and what was her story?

In this chaotic world, Nawal is trying to hold her sanity together. She is a courageous woman, and most importantly, it’s a courage shaped and nurtured by her life experiences. She knows of death, loss and violence, just as much as she knows of love, longing and forgiveness. Through her, we learn that all is not completely lost, that there can be life and living beyond one’s worst nightmares. A word about the actress – Azabal’s absolutely powerful and evocative performance adds more depth of feeling and subtlety to the entire narrative.  

The politics of the film are complex. Terrorism, political maneuvering, revenge, religious intolerance, political prisoners and torture tear individuals apart, body and soul. Incendies highlights the insidiousness of violence, and how it drives people’s life choices. Physical survival offers no assurances when it comes to psychological trauma, and many continue to seek closure and just may be a chance at redemption.   

Incendies is also a visually arresting work, whether it’s the birth of a child, the war-ravaged landscape, a burning bus, the smoldering ruins of a bombed out orphanage or an abandoned prison. Also, the absence of specific geographical placement gives the film a more universal tone to the narrative. 

Searching for answers...

There is a lot of flashback in the film. While this may confuse some viewers (so you have to be continuously engaged), it works as a point of comparison. A new generation is coming to terms with a bloody past and dealing with its mistakes. Of course, it is no triumph to realise that no one is closer to the kind of commitment and honesty needed to effect change.

And what an ending! It’s the biggest twist you would never see coming. Until the very end, you are left to wonder just how such a complicated situation will resolve itself, and how the twins will deal with the consequences. Ultimately though, it becomes an affirming experience that lends a sense of peace to those affected.

Incendies is a tough tale, but the telling of it is sensitive. There is a deeply felt tragic element in what humans are capable of doing to each other, and for the selfish and narrow-minded motivations that drive them on. At the same time, it is heartening to see that the healing power of compassion and our resilient nature as humans will see us through to another day. The fire may burn us, but the proverbial phoenix in us will always rise through the ashes to fly another day.

Here's the trailer:

© Hopscotch Films Entertainment


Images © Photographs by micro-scope, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics