After running away from his negligent parents, committing a violent crime and being sentenced to five years in jail, a hardened, streetwise 12-year-old Lebanese boy sues his parents in protest of the life they have given him.
Acting
Zain Al Rafeea's non-professional performance shatters you.
Direction
Labaki spent three years in Beirut slums for authenticity.
Cinematography
Handheld chaos meets unexpected beauty in rubble.
Director
Nadine Labaki
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Zain Al Rafeea was an actual Syrian refugee who'd never acted before; his real-life ID listed no birth date, so the production created one for him.
The title refers to Capernaum, a biblical town where Jesus performed miracles — Labaki uses it ironically, as no miracles arrive for these children.
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Reactions from the web
This is a fabulous film but not an easy watch, by any means. The story has hopeful aspects, at it's conclusion, but the journey to that point is relentlessly dire and hopeless. All the characters are on the bottom rung of society with precious little hope for the future. It is hard to see adults in such a desperate situation but much harder to see innocent children, cast adrift with no support from any adult or from the state. All credit to the production team, it's very impressive to have made such a convincing film with young actors in an obviously difficult environment, unsuitable for the logistics of film making. The acting is fantastic and the editing is perfect, moving the story at such a speed, your attention is held throughout.
@cjbrighton 57
It would be sooo beautiful, if they do a second part of this movie. Inshallah ✨❤️ Like, how he is leaving his country to start a new life in a strange country, with all the difficults.
@nisrineel.8430 16
One of the most horrific beautiful films ever shown in cinemas.
@MGR1900 2
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