NickReview for Capernaum (2018) Directed by Nadine Labaki. Starring: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw, Boluwatife Treasure Bankole. IMDB says “While serving a five-year sentence for a violent crime, a 12-year-old boy sues his parents for neglect.”
“I don’t know, ask them.”
Capernaum (means Chaos in Lebanese) is as incredible as it is tragic and it’s as devastating as it is beautiful. It’s a heartbreaking film that is unrelenting in its depiction of the squalor on the streets of Lebanon and the people just trying to survive. It’s hard watching a movie like this because of how real it gets. At times its too real, but that’s because of the research director Nadine Labaki (Where Do We Go Now?) has put into the film. A majority of the characters are based on people she’s met and even the main character, Zain, is portrayed by an actual Syrian refugee named Zain. It’s art truly imitating life in this film, and at times it’s hard to remember this is just a movie and not a documentary.
Capernaum tells the story of Zain, a young boy who is suing his parents for neglect. It follows a period of time where he has run away from home and the ensuing events during his survival. His story touches on many facets of life from poverty to human trafficking to the decisions we make and why we make them. The film does a great job balancing the gray areas in life and makes those who participate in even the darkest areas seem apathetic. What separates this film from the others like it is the performance from Zain. Drawing on real life hardship, Zain Al Rafeea brings a commanding presence and impressive confidence to the screen. He’s so natural in the film that, like I mentioned earlier, it’s hard to believe this is an actual film and not a random boy being followed by a documentary crew. Capernaum as a whole may not be breaking new ground, but the performances are what give the film such staying power.
I wish I had something to say about the score, but I feel it only serves to add those emotional minor chords designed to squeeze those extra few tears out of you. Although the film clocks in at just over two hours, Capernaum never loses its footing or pace. The film is lean and focused, despite the myriad of themes or topics it could cover. I wouldn’t be disappointed if the film was longer, but I don’t think my emotions could have handled it. If you decide to see it in theatres or stream it at home, keep those tissues within arm’s length.
FTS SCORE: 81%
Capernaum is now playing in a theater near you.