Twin siblings are left two envelopes in their mother’s will asking them to find a brother and father they never knew they had. Journeying from their home country to an unnamed nation, the twists and turns of their mother’s mysterious past reveal an emotionally charged and gut-wrenching truth that is deeply rooted in the country’s tumultuous history. A film by Denis Villeneuve, starring Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Abdelghafour Elaaziz, Mohamed Majd, Allen Altman, Nabil Sawalha, Baya Belal, and Rémy Girard.

Directed by Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve from a screenplay he co-wrote with Valérie Beaugrand-Champagne, INCENDIES is a drama film based on Wajdi Mouawad’s stage play of the same name.

Wajdi Mouawad is a Lebanese-Canadian playwright, director, actor, and theatre manager known for his highly acclaimed, politically engaged works that often explore themes of exile, identity, family trauma, and war. Mouawad writes primarily in French, and his plays have been translated into more than twenty languages and performed globally. He is best known for works such as Incendies, Littoral, Forêts, and Ciels, which collectively form the quartet Le Sang des promesses. Mouawad’s work is renowned for its moral ambition, commitment to intercultural dialogue, and deep engagement with issues of social justice and historical memory. His artistry is shaped by his personal experiences of displacement and his search for identity, which resonate through complex characters marked by loss, violence, and resilience.

It follows the story of Canadian twin siblings who, after their mother Nawal Marwan’s death, must travel to the Middle East to uncover her past. Following her will, they set out to find their long-lost brother and father to deliver letters she left for them.

The film shifts between the twins’ present-day journey and flashbacks to Nawal’s hidden past, revealing events her children never knew. Though some truths may be painful to confront, Nawal wants them to face the shocking reality she once lived.

With exceptional storytelling, a strong screenplay, and sharp editing, the film is elevated by Lubna Azabal’s outstanding performance. This is a film that stays with you, its haunting story lingering in the viewer’s mind.