Capernaum (2018)

The thing that makes Capernaum work as well as it does is the actor at its centre, 12 year old Zain Al Rafeea who has as much star presence as any Hollywood star. He embodies the screen when he's on it, and tells us the story of this young, abused, boy living in extreme poverty in a way that not only devastates us but brings us hope.

Capernaum is the story of Zain, suing his abusive parents for creating the situation that leads him to take justice into his own hands. It is emotionally wrecking yet completely inspiring. Director Nadine Labaki uses a cinema verite style so that we feel we are watching a documentary, and Zain's raw honesty brings this feeling alive too.

Zain isn't the only one. Yordanos Shiferaw as an undocumented worker/mother is incredible and her performance is heartbreaking. All of it comes together in a way that makes Capernaum impossible to take your eyes off of.

Capernaum will make you feel a complete range of emotions and remind us of the strength of the human spirit. 

Capernaum
Starring: Zain Al Radeea, Yordanos Shiferaw
Writer/Director: Nadine Labaki