Incendies

Denis Villeneuve is one of the greatest directors working today if not the greatest. He refuses to make bad films or to even follow the same formulas of your everyday blockbuster. He takes risks by making the films he wants to make. Even if you somehow don't like his films, his talent is undeniable. I haven't seen some of his films -Polytechnique and Maelstrom being the most noteworthy ones left, but the many that I have seen are some of my favorite films of all time. Blade Runner 2049, Sicario, Enemy, Dune 1 & 2, Arrival. Even his quirky, little, short film Next Floor. The man simply doesn't miss. Because of my appreciation for him, Incendies has been on my list for a very long time. I got to watch it today as a part of my 2024 Goals list and it absolutely floored me. I've manage to avoid everything about this movie. I remember around the time of its release that it had a decent amount of buzz for a foreign film in the US. Usually during the award ceremonies (especially the winners) was the only time you'd hear about any foreign projects. Incendies was one of the exceptions and I'm sure that's what put Villeneuve into the spotlight. Most people from what I've seen only talk about the plot twist. Yes, it's good, but what about the rest of the film? It's phenomenal and it's completely unfair for it to go unacknowledged. To say that Incendies is bleak would be an understatement. Denis holds absolutely nothing back. It's a violent, depressing world that feels like it shouldn't be explored by us or the characters within it. You want to scream at them to turn back and give up, but you also harbor some curiosity about the truth and want them to continue. What makes matters worse is that while it's set in a fictional location, it's inspired by some real events. Both Dune and Blade Runner have some breath taking set pieces that feel possible even though they are set in the distant future. To me, I might prefer those found in Incendies. It's the tangible realness to them that makes them work so well. The locations feel dirty and lived in and the environmental story telling, especially in the prison, is harrowing to say the least. We bounce around in time and it's fascinating to see how they changed the settings and characters during the timespan Due to the time jumps, the story is nonlinear, but we follow mother and daughter through similar locations. This was an interesting choice and made for an engaging watch as we piece together information and learn about Nawal's tragic past. It added immersion and mystery to an already compelling narrative. Pretty sure I audibly gasped several times. Despite the gut punch of a plot, this is an stunning film. This easily has some of Villeneuve's best camera work. The Middle Eastern setting is a perfect subject for some gorgeous and harrowing shots and he doesn't disappoint. The performances were fantastic. I didn't recognize any of the actors in this film, but they were all perfect choices. Most of the characters are sad throughout so there isn't much emotional range, but I completely bought that these characters were real and experienced these traumatic events. I almost forgot to mention the Radiohead needle drop. I'm a big fan so that was a pleasant surprise. Some interesting song choices, but they definitely fit the vibe of the film. Okay so the twist. Obviously not going to spoil it. I knew going in that there was some kind of plot twist, but I thought I had it figured out about halfway through. I did not. It was sickening, but earned and well implemented. There's an argument to be made that this is his best film. For now I think I still like Arrival and Sicario a tad more. Regardless I'll be thinking about this film for quite a while. Lists: *2024 Goals, Favorite Films, Denis Villeneuve Ranked* Last Review: *The Ascent*