Compiled by Anealla Safdar, Digital Department, DFI

In the month of Ramadan, there are no new films showing in the region. Though that means the Middle East will not get to see blockbusters like “The Dark Knight Rises” for another few weeks, it does mean distributors are bringing back some excellent films from the past.

This week Oscar nominated “Incendies” is playing again, a year after its first screening in Doha’s regular theatres and two years after we showed the film at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival.

Canadian director Dennis Villeneuve’s intense, twisting and arresting drama follows the journey of twins seeking to disentangle their dead mother’s past. Nawal’s moody son Simon and hopeful daughter Jeanne discover the secrets that traumatised their sole parent on their voyage from Canada to the Middle East.

Starting simply with the reading of a will, themes of love, war, religion, family and sacrifice are explored in the film, an adaptation of a play by Wajdi Mouawad.

“Incendies” is playing at Royal Plaza at 9 pm. Arabic and French are the characters’ languages. English subtitles accompany spoken French, but only French subtitles explain the Arabic.

Past reviews:

Reem Saleh, Doha Film Institute
“Villeneuve portrays a vulnerable and curious vision from Nawal’s viewpoint, one that is applicable to any person regardless of religion and political parties, but sharing the same circumstances.”

A.O Scott, New York Times
“…though “Incendies” provides an unflinching account of brutality, it also suggests that to keep such an account can be a transformative act of kindness.”

Tom Dawson, Total Film
“Expertly shifting between present and past , writer-director Denis Villeneuve displays an impressive command of his material, patiently building up to an emotionally explosive climax.”

Empire
“A thriller that twists and turns with an understated power that will have you gripping the arm of your seat. Terrific stuff.”