Movie Is About a Choice You Never See Made
Imagine sitting through a movie where the big turning point hinges on a decision so huge it shapes everything, but the screen never shows you that exact moment. The characters live with the fallout, but the choice itself stays hidden off-screen. That is the heart of the 2010 film Incendies, directed by Denis Villeneuve. It stands out as a powerful story that builds mystery around what you do not see.
The plot follows two twins, Jeanne and Simon, who travel to the Middle East after their mothers dying wish points them there. She leaves them letters with clues about their family roots, leading to shocking discoveries about their parents. The real hook is a secret choice their mother Nawal made decades earlier during a time of war and conflict. Viewers piece it together through flashbacks, but the film smartly skips showing that one pivotal decision. You feel its weight in every scene without ever witnessing it happen. This approach makes the story hit harder, forcing you to think about how choices echo across generations.
Incendies draws from real tensions in the Middle East, blending personal drama with bigger issues like identity and revenge. Nawal, played by Lubna Azabal, starts as a young woman fighting for her beliefs, caught in violence between villages and factions. Her path twists through prison, love, and loss, all tied to that unseen choice. The twins uncover layers of truth that flip their world upside down. Villeneuves tight direction keeps the pace gripping, with stunning visuals of deserts and old buildings that amp up the tension.
Fans praise it for smart storytelling. One list calls it a top overlooked gem from the 2011 era, right up there with films like A Separation for its emotional depth. It earned Oscar nods for Best Foreign Language Film, proving its pull. Unlike movies where choices play out in real time, like in some dystopian tales such as Never Let Me Go where fates feel set from the start, Incendies thrives on the mystery of what stays off-screen.
This technique is rare but effective. It mirrors life, where we often only see results, not the private moments that lead there. Other films touch on big decisions, like folks in Kicking and Screaming dodging life choices after college. Or unfinished projects like The Day The Clown Cried that fans never fully see. But Incendies nails the idea head-on, making its hidden choice the storys core.
Sources
https://agoodmovietowatch.com/21st-centurys-100-never-heard-of/
https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/dystopian-movies/best-dystopian-movies-of-all-time-1
https://swarthmorephoenix.com/2025/12/11/first-year-scaries-and-movies-that-can-help/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_abandoned_and_unfinished_films
https://entertainment.ie/movies/movie-news/never-released-movies-483735/
https://steamcommunity.com/app/1222140/discussions/0/695373728984335694/
https://www.imdb.com/news/ni62630853/
