“Death is not the end of the story.  It is only the beginning.”  Incendies (Canada, 2010) tells the incredible story of twin brother & sister Jeanne (Melissa Desormmeaux-Poulin) & Simon (Maxim Gaudette) Marwan’s search to uncover their mother’s (Lubna Azabal) past.  After her death they are handed letters, one for a father they thought was dead & another for a brother they never knew, that lead them on a journey of discovery that will challenge not only their understanding of their mother, but of their own identities. Taking the twins to an unnamed Middle Eastern country torn by generational sectarian war, the journey uncovers the mystery of their mother’s strength & her solitude.  Told partially in flashback, showing the mother’s painful life, writer/director Denis Villenueve’s heart wrenching tale of war, sacrifice & redemption is both haunting and uplifting & will stay with the viewer long after the final credits end.
 IMDB Rating:  8
Nominated for Best Foreign Film Oscar
​