Powerful and mesmerizing

Rating: Null/10 (19 November 2011)

This astounding movie will stay with you for a long time. So many reviews have been posted, anything I could say would be a repeat: this is how movies should be made. I didn't mind the subtitles, I only hope my family will sit through them, because it is definitely worth it.
Although it did not have the gut-wrenching impact that movies such as Sophie's Choice and the Eagle Has Landed had on me, and I did not feel the intensity of the emotions other reviewers reported feeling, I deeply appreciated and enjoyed the dramatic impact of the unfolding of the mystery. I believe Incendies will stay with me over the years as the other movies have because of how well it is made.
The talent of all the main actors was such that I will remember them as characters in the story, not as actors playing the roles. I appreciated the artistic elements, the choice of set pieces that gave a really authentic look to each setting. It was refreshing not to have Hollywood fake-y white teeth ruining the look of working class and rural characters. However, I do feel the make-up artists, and perhaps other techniques, could have given a better sense of the actual age of a few characters at various points in their life and that would have given the audience gain a better sense of the actual time span. It was a small distraction to make mental allowances for that while the scenes unfolded.
My only notable frustration was I couldn't find a reference to the identity of performer who provided the marvelous ethereal mezzo-soprano singing at the ending credits, and the composer and piece. (Perhaps it was in French and I missed it?) I finally found out the singer is Ciara Hendrick. I hope it will be possible to get a recording of her performance on the soundtrack. I found a Youtube recording that displayed the German lyrics, however, it sounded like a different performer: the quality of singing was not as satisfying.