After leaving the movie theatre, quiet and stunned, my initial reaction and instinct was to let the movie settle in my mind for a few days. I needed time to fully grasp it's message and to also introspect my life and how I live. 'Capernaum' is gripping, sensitive and simply incredible. The first sentence I spoke to my parents after seeing this film was: 'WE ARE SO LUCKY'. It is difficult to watch a film that focusses on poverty in such a brutal and honest way because in our western world we - as harsh but true it is to say - choose to ignore it. But this is why it is important to see this film.
Zain (Zain Al Rafeea) is a precocious, twelve-year-old boy with a young, vulnerable and innocent facade. However, he is feisty, decisive and determined as he swears aggressively to the disingenuous adults in this world - blaming them for the unfairness and mistreatment he has been forced to experience by simply being born. Living and growing up in poverty forces this young boy to be independent as he makes difficult choices for himself and other children in the film. Zain has developed an instinct to protect not only his sister, Sahar (Cedra Izam) but also the son of Rahil (Yordanos Shifera), an Ethiopian refugee. As breathtaking as it is to watch a young boy use his innovative mind to care for those he loves; we have to be reminded that he is still a child. It is in these moments (such as when he meets Spiderman's "cousin" or when he exposes the breasts of a large statue) that the viewer is overcome with a great, unexplainable feeling of sadness and shock. These reminders give the film it's heavy, emotional density. Perhaps because of the knowledge that for so many children, this is their reality.
It is tricky to incorporate humour in a film so distressing and thoughtful, however the little pockets of warm amusement we receive, balance our emotions while juxtaposing them to make us understand the hardcore severity in the reality of contemporary Lebanon. Both the upsetting and humorous scenes are intensified and as much as they contrast with each other, they also go hand-in-hand in an effortless equilibrium. When there is light comedy we let it linger, let out a sigh, and then continue to focus on Zain's devastatingly raw and realistic journey.
Nadine Labaki is knocking at our Western window to show us, first hand, what is happening to our neighbours in the world that we share. We question how can we help? What can we do? How did it get to this? We are reminded to never take for granted the fact that we have a home, a bed, food and clean water literally at our fingertips. What we consider as simply 'home comforts' are luxuries to millions of people who risk their lives every day for something as vital, yet simple as a cup of water or a sheltered place to sleep. It is becoming far too easy to say "the world is unfair", as if there is nothing we can do. But we can, the world is just inhumane.
Lebanon has been struggling for years to recover from its civil war that took place across 1975 - 1990. A simple Google search led me to a few articles about Lebanon so that I can understand their situation better. Please take the time to read it too and be more aware of the world outside our own.
https://borgenproject.org/top-10-crucial-to-know-facts-about-poverty-in-lebanon/
'Capernaum' is a beautiful piece of cinema that I urge you to watch. In addition, please understand that I am not trying to be cavalier at all because I do not have the knowledge to educate people on this subject, I simply want to share my thoughts and hopefully encourage more people to watch the film.
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