Capernaum
dir. Nadine Labaki · 2018
Life can be a burden when it is filled with neglect and suffering, leading individuals to question the value of existence itself.
Feature
Immigrant Experience
Mood
Dark / Melancholic
Look
gritty realism infused with vibrant cultural details
Structure
nonlinear storytelling with flashbacks and present-day courtroom scenes
Plot
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.
Why watch
"Capernaum" is a searing exploration of childhood lost and the fight for justice, as a young boy takes on his negligent parents in a powerful court case that reveals the harsh realities of life on the margins. This poignant and visually arresting film invites viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about society and the resilience of youth.
Cultural context
Lebanese socio-political backdropthe refugee experiencefamily dynamics under strainchild welfare issues