Incendies — the weight of what goes unsaid
Patient direction and powerful performances give this family drama its force. A difficult watch that earns most of its emotional weight.
Patient direction and powerful performances give this family drama its force. A difficult watch that earns most of its emotional weight.
Spoiler-free review.
Incendies gives silence a lot of room. People hesitate before answering, or look as if answering would cost more than they can manage. That restraint drew me in more than any explanation of the family history could have.
Denis Villeneuve moves between a mother’s past and her children’s search with a clear sense of purpose. The changes in time ask for attention, but the film never feels interested in confusing you for the sake of it. There is always a person trying to understand another person underneath the structure.
Lubna Azabal is the strongest reason it works for me. She gives Nawal a stubborn physical presence, even when there is very little dialogue. The performance makes suffering feel specific to a person rather than something included simply to make a scene more serious.
The violence is difficult, and the film can be relentless. Occasionally the story feels too tightly arranged, with its construction more visible than I would like. The quieter scenes are often the ones I trust most: a face, a pause, someone trying to find the next words.
8/10. Controlled direction and an excellent central performance make this worth the emotional effort. I would keep any reading beforehand to a minimum.
Directed by Denis Villeneuve · 2010 · French / Arabic. Film details · Poster source. Artwork © its respective rights holders.
Patient direction and powerful performances give this family drama its force. A difficult watch that earns most of its emotional weight.
— Desly