Next International Film presentation portrays ordeal of survival in midst of war

LACONIA —The critically-acclaimed Canadian mystery-drama "Incendies," will be shown as the next in the International Film Series presentation on Monday, Jan. 9, at 6:15 p.m. at the Laconia Public Library.

The series is sponsored by the Laconia Human Relations Committee in cooperation with the Laconia Public Library.

"Incendies," (French for fires), is the story of twins who make a life-altering discovery following the death of their mother. Upon learning that their absentee father is still very much alive and they also have a brother they have never met, the pair travels to a unnamed country very similar to Lebanon on a mission to uncover the truth about their mystery-shrouded past.

Parts of the story are based on the life of Souha Bechara that took place during the Lebanese Civil War of 1975 to 1990.

The story concerns her Canadian son and daughter, fraternal twins, now in their 20s. Upon their mother's death they find that she has asked a notary friend to relay the message that she would like them to continue the search for their unknown father and brother.

The mother, Nawal in this story, comes from a Christian Arab family and fell in love with a Palestinian refugee. When a pregnancy becomes known, her family murders the baby's father and nearly kills her in an honor killing. Her grandmother saves her and when the baby is born he is put in an orphanage. He has been marked with a small tattoo so he can be identified if found later. War becomes an every-day reality over the years that Nawal searches for her baby. The complications brought into her life are overwhelming and painful, as she struggles to survive while opposing all war on humanitarian grounds. She eventually immigrates to Canada with the twins.

For more information, contact Len Campbell at lcampbell@nh-cc.org or Carol Pierce at newdynam@aol.com.