Incendies

2010, 130 minutes

Oppressive, visually rich thriller and tragedy of fate all in one. Twins Jeanne and Simon set out in search of their roots in the war-torn Middle East, where they make a horrible discovery. Popular among audiences at the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2011.

After their mother dies, twins Jeanne and Simon stumble across several surprises in her last will and testament. Each of them has to deliver a sealed envelope: Jeanne to her father and Simon to his brother – but their father has been dead for years, and Simon and Jeanne had never known about a brother. Jeanne leaves for the Middle East in hope of unravelling the mysteries of her mother’s past, but encounters resolute resistance at every turn. Family members and eye-witnesses would rather not unearth the secrets held in the painful, war-ravaged past. The film by Canadian director Villeneuve is based on the play of the same name written by Wajdi Mouawad. Incendies was internationally widely acclaimed and was nominated for an Oscar in 2011.

Credits

Themes
Family, Freedom of speech and expression, Identity, War and armed conflict
Suitable for
havo/vwo - bovenbouw
mbo - niveau 3 & 4
Director
Denis Villeneuve
Country of production
Canada, France
Type
Fiction
Duration
130 minutes
Year
2010
Age rating
16 geweld grof taalgebruik