SSC 06: Incendies (Denis Villeneuve, 2010)

Single Serving Cinema

Tim and Tay talk about the career of Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, and examine a powerful scene that marks the turning point for Incendies' protagonist Narwal Marwan.
Incendies tells the story of Canadian twins that travel to their mother's native country in the Middle East to uncover her hidden past amidst a bloody civil war. Told in parallel, the two generations’ stories examine the trauma and effects of cyclical violence. Based on the play of the same name by Wajdi Mouawad, Incendies premiered on September 4, 2010.

Tagline — “The search began at the opening of their mother's will.”

Incendies is available to stream on Crave (Starz) or as a digital rental.

Scene (48:08 — 52:52)

Amidst the revolution, Nawal searches for her long-lost child, making her way through the dangerous desert countryside where she catches a bus carrying Muslim refugees. To avoid conflict, she hides her Christianity by removing her crucifix. Awaking from a nap, Nawal witnesses a violent confrontation between the bus driver and a group of Christian Nationalists before they turn their guns on the bus, leaving only Nawal and another woman and child alive.

As they prepare to light the bus on fire, Nawal calls out that she is Christian, and is spared. She tries to save the child by saying that it’s hers, but the Nationalists shoot the child anyways. Nawal is left alone in the desert beside the burning bus.

Links

• 6:35 — Souha Bechara as partial inspiration for Incendies
• 7:32 — Villeneuve speaking on Incencies (making-of documentary on Incendies blu-ray)
• 8:52 — Munich (Spielberg, 2005)
• 15:35 — The Midpoint Collision, (Lessons From The Screenplay)
• 21:17 — Alien (Scott, 1979)

Recommendations

Tim: Mikey and Nicky (Elaine May, 1976). Available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Tay: Persepolis (Marjane Satrapi, 2007). Available to stream on Criterion Channel, or as a digital rental.

All links verified at the time of publication and based on availability in Canada.

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