Incendies

In the midst of a chaotic world, the story of Jeanne and Simon begins with the untimely death of their mother, Nalamé. As per her final wishes, the twins are in for an unexpected journey, one that will take them to the heart of the Middle East in search of their identity. Nalamé, who played a significant role in their lives, leaves behind a will that sets in motion a series of events, revealing long-held secrets and the truth about their family's dark past. As the twins attempt to navigate their way through the complexities of their mother's final wishes, they are met with resistance from their father, Tarek. Haunted by the memories of Nalamé and struggling to cope with the loss of his wife, Tarek does everything in his power to deter Jeanne and Simon from uncovering their roots. The division between the twins and their father is now more apparent than ever, with Jeanne seeking answers about their family's history while Simon is more hesitant, finding it difficult to look beyond the past. Jeanne's journey begins in Montreal, Canada, where she is met with resistance from the authorities as she tries to obtain her mother's passport. It is here that she meets a lawyer, who not only helps her procure the necessary documents but also supports her in her quest to understand her mother's truth. Simon, on the other hand, takes a more calculated and cautious approach, flying to Lebanon and meeting with their father's family. However, neither of them is prepared for the trials they will have to face in the pursuit of their roots. Tarek, it turns out, has a traumatic past that has been hidden from his family. The twins learn that he was once a political prisoner in the Lebanese civil war, where he witnessed unimaginable atrocities and was injured in a bomb attack. His time in prison drove a wedge between him and Nalamé, who struggled to cope with their family's situation and cared for Simon after his birth. The harsh realities of war and the pain of witnessing innocent lives lost have left their mark on Tarek, affecting his family dynamics and forcing the twins to come to terms with their own legacy. Upon traveling to Lebanon, Jeanne encounters people who are connected to her mother's past, each of whom holds a piece of the truth that she desperately desires to uncover. One such person is a woman named Touma, who reveals to Jeanne the circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance and the reason why she left Lebanon. This revelation is both heart-wrenching and difficult for Jeanne to accept, as it exposes the scars of the war and the immense struggle that their family endured. The Lebanese journey presents the twins with the possibility of reuniting with their long-lost heritage, as they immerse themselves in the language, customs, and culture of the region. Alongside this cultural exploration, they start to process their emotions and deal with the emotional baggage they have been carrying since their mother's death. Tarek's resistance to the truth starts to unravel, revealing a sense of pain and hurt that haunts him still. At the same time, the twins find themselves caught between two worlds - the one they knew and loved in Montreal, and the one they are starting to discover in Beirut. A tug of war between their respective identities is inevitable as they confront the reality that they are not just Canadian citizens but also inheritors of a complex Middle Eastern cultural identity. As the story comes full circle, Jeanne discovers more about their mother's fate and the sacrifices she made for her family's freedom. The mother's life, like her death, serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of conflict and war. Tarek's resistance also starts to dissolve, and with it, the twins begin to confront the complexity of their family's story, grappling with the dissonance between their everyday life in Canada and the historical landscapes of Lebanon. Ultimately, it is up to the twins to find solace in the love that they shared with their mother, and in the shared roots that bind them to this troubled yet resilient part of the world. Though the journey has left its share of scars on their bodies and their psyches, Jeanne and Simon learn to draw strength from their collective heritage and from the stories of their family, pieces that are slowly coming together in this journey of recovery and self-discovery.