Denis Villeneuve’s searing masterpiece follows twin siblings who, after their mother’s death, travel to the Middle East to uncover the hidden truths of her past and their own origins. The gripping, non-linear film unspools a devastating story of war, identity, and the long shadows violence casts across generations.
Sixteen years after its release, Incendies is worth revisiting now for its unsettling relevance: its exploration of inherited trauma, displacement, and cycles of revenge feels painfully current. Anchored by unforgettable performances and Villeneuve’s precise, restrained direction, the film remains as shocking, humane, and emotionally resonant today as when it was first nominated for a Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award in 2010.
