Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes last year alongside a whole host of further nominations and wins, Capernaum [Chaos] still didn’t reach as wide an audience as it deserved with its theatrical release. This powerful Lebanese drama now comes to Blu-ray, DVD and digital.
13 year old Syrian refugee Zain Al Rafeea, with zero prior acting experience, absolutely captivates as Lebanese kid Zain who sues his parents for neglect after ending up in prison.
Written and directed by Lebanese actress Nadine Labaki, it’s palpable that this film is a labour of love – an empathetic and stunning portrayal of Beirut and its inhabitants: a city whose dark side is balanced by the incredible spirit, humanity and resilience of those who reside there.
One of numerous siblings, Zain works on the street and in a shop every day, doing hard manual labour to help provide for his family. The almost documentary-like realism with which the camera follows him going about his daily tasks puts the audience right there with him – so present you can almost feel the dust in the air.
A heartbreaking series of events force Zain to run away from home, leaving behind the only security, however tenuous, he has ever known, and alone in a new place he must find a means of survival. Yordanos Shiferaw plays an illegal Ethiopian refugee whom Zain befriends, and along with her baby son Yonas (Boluwatife Treasure Bankole), the three form their own family…until circumstance comes knocking at the door once more.
Al Rafeea carries himself with a wisdom and solemnity far beyond his years that is simultaneously inspiring and heartbreaking to watch. He brings warmth and humour effortlessly: taking care of the baby so tenderly while espousing a steady stream of good natured swearing is particularly funny, and even Bankole delivers an unbelievably conscious performance for a toddler.
Capernaum is painfully politically relevant, ultimately driving home the challenges faced by those living in poverty, whether they’re nationals, refugees, or undocumented immigrants. Masterfully inserting empathy for the neglectful parents too, the film condemns a broken system more than individual perpetrators, and acts as a powerful call to action to protect the most vulnerable children.
Stunningly rendered and beautifully shot, Capernaum is a masterpiece that hangs on Al Rafeea’s nuanced and mature performance.
Capernaum is available now on DVD, Blu-ray and digital.