''Incendies'' is a 2003 play by

Wajdi Mouawad Wajdi Mouawad, OC, (born 1968) is a Lebanese-Canadian writer, actor, and director. He is known in Canadian and French theatre for politically engaged works such as the acclaimed play ''Incendies'' (2003). His works often revolve around family t ...

. The play was translated into English as ''Scorched'' by Linda Gaboriau and was published in 2005 by

Playwrights Canada Press Playwrights Canada Press is a Canadian publishing house founded in 1984 by the Playwrights Guild of Canada. It was incorporated in 2000 as an independent company. Notable books *'' The Adventures of a Black Girl in Search of God'', Djanet Sear ...

. The play was based on parts of the life of the Lebanese communist militant Soha Bechara. Charlotte Facet notes that Mouawad met with Bechara before writing the play, but adds that some of the material is adapted from

Randa Chahal Sabag Randa Chahal Sabbagh (Arabic: رندا شهال صباغ) was a Lebanese film director, producer and screenwriter. Chahal was born December 11, 1953 in Tripoli, Lebanon to an Iraqi mother and a Lebanese father. She died of cancer August 25, 2008 ...

's film work on and with Bechara, while noting that many of the characteristics of Bechara are divided among the main characters including Jeanne and Simon, rather than Nawal alone.

Plot

''Incendies'' follows the journey of twins Jeanne (Janine in the English translation) and Simon, as they attempt to unravel the mystery of their mother's life. When Jeanne and Simon Marwan lose their mother, Nawal, they are instead left with a difficult mission that sends them on a journey to the Middle East in pursuit of their tangled roots and a long-lost brother.

Awards

The 2007 production at the

Tarragon Theatre The Tarragon Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and one of the main centers for contemporary playwriting in the country.

Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most pop ...

won two

Dora Mavor Moore Award The Dora Mavor Moore Award (also known as the Dora Award) is an award presented annually by the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts which honours theatre, dance and opera productions in Toronto. Named after Dora Mavor Moore, who helped est ...

s, including Best Play and Best Director (for

Richard Rose Richard Rose may refer to: *Richard Rose (mystic) (1917–2005), American mystic, esoteric philosopher, author, poet, and investigator of paranormal phenomena *Richard Rose (political scientist) (born 1933), American political scientist and professo ...

). The production has been remounted several times and went on a cross-Canada tour in 2008–2009.

Film version

''Incendies'' was adapted into a 2010 film of the same title by

Denis Villeneuve Denis Villeneuve (; born October 3, 1967) is a Canadian filmmaker. He is a four-time recipient of the Canadian Screen Award (formerly Genie Award) for Best Direction, winning for '' Maelström'' in 2001, '' Polytechnique'' in 2009, '' Incendie ...

. It stars

Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin (born in July 1981), is a French Canadian actress. Biography Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin was born to a family unconnected with the dramatic arts: her mother is a director of communications and her father is a teacher. ...

Maxim Gaudette Maxim Gaudette (born June 8, 1974) is a Canadian actor from Quebec. He won both the Genie Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Jutra Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2010 for his role as Marc Lépine in the 2009 film '' Polytechnique''. Or ...

, and

Lubna Azabal Lubna Azabal (born 15 August 1973) is a Belgian actress of Moroccan– Spanish descent. Career Azabal was born on 15 August 1973 in Brussels to a Moroccan father and a Spanish mother.Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...

in the

Best Foreign Language Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress# ...

category.

References

{{Authority control 2003 plays Quebec plays French-language plays Canadian plays adapted into films Tragedy plays