Capernaum: The 12-Year Old Man

A film so uniquely captivating yet tragically suspenseful, Capernaum takes us on a journey to discover and open our eyes to the life of a boy living in the slums of Lebanon. Lebanese filmmaker, Nadine

Labaki, co-written with Jihad Hojeily and Michelle Keserwany, successfully depict a marginalized society using local first time actors to bring attention to the devastating circumstances that are currently abundant and the unfortunate that live amongst us. This film

shows raw and true compassion, love, loyalty, hardship, sadness, pain and persistence as the boy, Zain, is presented with obstacles no child should bare. The film is organized through flashbacks from a court scene

where Zain is attempting to sue his parents, strongly emphasizing the tragedies that take place within their family and the consequences that result.

Zain, a 12-year old boy, lives with his family in a rundown apartment in the slums of Lebanon, as tenants to a questionable landlord, and working a labor some job to contribute to the care of his family as best as he could. Crowded amongst his siblings with barely

anything to eat, Zain is put in a very difficult situation at such a young age, having had no time to experience a childhood. A scene shows Zain, yearning the loss of his childhood and a normal upbringing when

he catches sight of a school bus dropping kids off, with a bitterly sad look, he turns away and continues his job. Zain’s dealings and stature demonstrates such characteristics of a grown man but is reflected in such a manner that makes it painful to see as he is but a

young boy.

With a very mature understanding of societal

normality’s in the geographical area that he lives in, Zain is immediately concerned and aware of the consequences of his dear sister getting her period. To offset these consequences and attempt to keep his sister away from getting sold to the highest bidder, Zain handles the situation, giving his sister his shirt to use as a pad until he can steal some. The actions of Zain weren’t only quick, assertive and rational, but also very compassionate and understanding, as he knew his sister wouldn’t be ready for marriage nor capable as she was just a child. But even with his efforts, he was not able to keep his sister at home and was taken

off to a man more than double her age, leaving him without the relationship he cherished most. And with that, Zain ran away. Running away wasn’t much easier than the life he had at home. After scouring the streets, looking for food and a job, he found an Ethiopian illegal refugee

with a toddler that he begins to treat like family. But after the mother disappears, Zain must take care of the child alone that he’s grown to love and consider a brother but is again put in a situation where scouring

the streets again became his daily struggle. Zain is persistent, he finds ways to help them survive and is wise beyond his years, not trusting anyone and takes their lives into his own hands. After going through a string of difficult circumstances, Zain is brought back to his family where

he hears the most devastating news of all. Zain is put through a stream of emotional tragedies that tore his innocence apart and left him shattered and blinded to anything but utter despair. Zain wasn’t given the chance for happiness. Zain wanted to sue his parents for even being born.