Incendies

I’ve been starring into space blankly with my mouth agape for 15 minutes in shock of this movie. Never have I had a more visceral physical reaction to a film than Incendies in a long goddamn time. Went in completely with the intention of, “oh, earlier work of Denis Villeneuve and it’s like one of the last of his films I have yet to see. Sure, sounds like it’ll be a good time.” Literally nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. Maybe I’m just super naive and the twist is easy to predict, but even then I didn’t have a twist in mind. Throughout mostly 2/3 or the film it reads as fairly mainstream peppered with some brutal scenes, then once it all comes together I could not believe it. I literally was dumbfounded. Absolutely stunning shooting with landscapes of various locations used and the color palate is so barren and desolate and loved every shot of it all. The ferocity of both leads Lubna Azabal and Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, each in their own respective styles for the characters they are portraying enamored me having every bit of my attention. I felt deeply for Nawal every moment she was on screen and was at times afraid of what was to come next for her. The wrapped-up-in-a-neat-package-and-put-a-bow-on-it story by the end was devastatingly heart wrenching through each characters reaction. I really just can’t get over the way Villeneuve is such a spellbinding storyteller proving THIS film is actually some of his best. If any film is slept on, it’s most definitely this one. The only weak link in his work I can think of is Blade Runner 2049 so maybe I should rewatch that soon or that film is just not working on my end. Nonetheless, please continue to blow our minds Denis. Dune hype is intensifying. “One plus one, does it make one?” Broooooooo uugghhhhhbsbebfjkcvqnvkjhtlwo I can’t even.