1187. Capernaum

Capernaum
2018
Directed by Nadine Labaki 

Well, if anybody was feeling too happy from movies about terminal illness and World War II atrocities, here's a film to bring you back down to Earth again. I have to find the most cheerful remaining title on the List to watch next, which right now looks like Aileen: The Life and Death of a Serial Killer.

Zain is a 12 year old living in the slums of Beirut, struggling to support his many siblings by whatever means he can. At the beginning of the film, he is serving a five-year prison sentence for stabbing someone. Zain decides to sure his parents for being born, and the film flashes back to what lead up to Zain's current predicament. 

This is a very moving film, obviously designed to tug on your heartstrings and make you want to adopt every baby ever born. The main actor does a brilliant job of appearing like a man in a 12 year old's body, simply because his experiences have aged him so much. This is probably because the main actor had a really rough life as well. 

Visually, this film was also very impressive. I loved when Zain was walking through the park. It felt like he was reflecting on what childhood might have been for him, if he had been given one. This film is full of powerful moments like that, that will keep you reaching for the tissues or cyanide pills, depending on your mood that day.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

The boy who stars as Zain is actually a Syrian refugee.

Capernaum is a village in the Bible that is condemned by Jesus for refusing to repent for its sins, even when he performed miracles there. 

The first cut of the movie was 12 hours long.

Highest grossing Middle Eastern film of all time.