This 92%-Rated War Drama Is Denis Villeneuve's Most Startling Movie – Not 'Arrival'

Since 2013, Canadian director Denis Villeneuve has firmly established himself in Hollywood. Each of his films, from Prisoners to Blade Runner 2049, is an event, drawing both crowds and rave reviews.

However, even the director's most devoted fans, who admire the dark aesthetic of Arrival or the epic scope of Dune, are often unfamiliar with his early work.

Two years before he conquered the American film industry, Villeneuve made a movie that many still consider his best and most shocking work: Incendies.

What Is 'Incendies' About?

After their mother's death, brother and sister twins Jeanne and Simon are presented with her will. They are overwhelmed by the news: their mother had hidden the truth from them their entire life.

Her will is a request to find their father, whom the twins believed to be dead, as well as their brother, whose existence they were unaware of.

Jeanne and Simon set off for their mother's ancestral homeland, a war-torn country in the Middle East. Along the way, they discover a shocking truth about their parents that changes their lives and forces them to view their family in a whole new light.

By the Finale, 'Incendies' Rises to the Level of an Ancient Tragedy

In Incendies, Villeneuve universalizes language and space and the movie's passions span from tranquil Quebec to a war-torn Middle Eastern country.

The director employs slow exposition, long shots, and an elliptical narrative, constantly throwing the viewer from the present to the recent past. This fills in gaps in the family's history and enriches the plot with new mysteries.

Remarkably, Villeneuve doesn't give the viewer a single chance to solve this plot conundrum.

Although Villeneuve is sometimes criticized for subtly manipulating the audience's emotions at the finale, even this manipulation supports the overall concept.

'Incendies' Is a Brilliant Movie That You Won't Want to Watch Twice

Many fans still consider Incendies to be Villeneuve's finest film, a position that is easy to understand. It's a largely underrated detective story whose shocking pessimism stands out even within Villeneuve's already depressing filmography.

You might not want to watch Incendies a second time – not because it's weak, but because it's simply too heartbreaking.

This is cinema of the highest order, which is why Hollywood immediately put Villeneuve on its radar.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Incendies'?

• Incendies has 91% from critics and 92% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 8.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, Incendies scored 4.4/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Incendies'?

Incendies is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.