In the film Incendies, we follow twins Simon and Jeanne, who are summoned to a notary’s office after their mother’s death to hear her last will and testament. To their great surprise, they discover that their mother has left them two letters: one addressed to a father they thought was dead, and one to a brother whose existence they never knew. Determined to uncover the truth and fulfill their mother’s final wish, Simon and Jeanne travel to an unknown country in the Middle East.

During their quest, they are confronted with a complex and often painful family history, which turns out to be closely intertwined with the violent conflicts in the region. Step by step, they unravel their mother’s past, discovering the traumas, secrets, and choices that have shaped her life. Their journey becomes not only a search for their family, but also for their own identities, and ultimately leads to a shocking and deeply moving conclusion.