The Film
Incendies features a story that plays much like a folktale, with twists and turns missing from many of today's films. After the death of their mother, adult twins Jeanne (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin) and Simon (Maxim Gaudette) learn the truth about the father they thought was dead, and discover they have a brother they never even knew existed. This takes the pair from their comfortable lives in Canada to a war-torn Middle Eastern country. It is an unsettling story, with much violence and death, but it does offer satisfying closure in the end. In the end it is the family ties that bind this story together.
The Picture
There is a fair amount of grain and noise on the picture, and it is far from the sharpest looking of Blu-ray releases, but it is clearly a high definition release, looking better than anything you can get on DVD or streaming sources. This gives the 1080p, 1.85:1 presentation an almost "you are there" sort of feeling. The colors are accurate - although the Middle Eastern scenes are somewhat muted in colors, with mostly earth tones and shades of gray making up the color palette. The black levels are quite good as well, making for a decent looking film over all.
The Sound
Set in a war torn land, Incendies packs plenty of punch at times. Much of the film is dialog-driven with a few subtle spatial cues, and this makes those moments of gun fire and action all the more intense. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack provides clear French Canadian, along with some Arabic dialog through the center channel, while providing the right mix of intense and subtle discrete audio to the side and rear speakers. The score is a little too loud at times, but it serves the stirring story very well.
The Extras
Given the type of film viewers shouldn't expect much in the way of extras, but this package includes a commentary from director Denis Villeneuve, along with a video piece "Remembering the Ashes: Incendies Through Their Eyes." In addition, there is the theatrical trailer, along with the DVD version of the film on a second disc.
Final Thoughts
This is a well-cast, well-acted film with a truly unique story. It is not the easiest film to watch, but it is one that will likely stick with you long after it ends. And while the video isn't the clearest of Blu-ray releases, the ample detail and clarity helps transport the viewer to another land, possibly one you'd never otherwise want to visit.
Product Details
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