Not Just a Film

You know when you witness something, or go through something that changes your life? That feeling can range from elation to pure sadness. For many people this happens on a daily basis. The 2018 Lebanese film ‘Capernaum’ illustrated just how painful being neglected as a child can be, or how scarring it is to be sex trafficked. The New York Times said it best, “‘Capernaum’ is Not Just a Film, but a Rallying Cry”. Not only did the film receive a 15-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, but it went on to win the Jury Prize, one of the many awards on the festival circuit. It secured a Golden Globe nomination for best-foreign language film, and an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature. While it did not win at those award shows, it is safe to say that Capernaum was not only heart-breaking, but impactful.

It is an international film, so it may not be as known as ‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ or ‘Forrest Gump’, but I believe it should. The tragic story of Zain, a 12 year-old-boy that sues his parents for giving him life in such a chaotic world, is one that should be watched by everyone. The film not only indicates how corrupt and unjust the system is in Lebanon and in so many under-developed and poor countries, it also points out the flaws that we find in even the richest and most developed nations. ‘Capernaum’ shows that even though we have people in governments and systems all around the world that say they are going to protect us, it is very easy for cruelty, injustice and selfishness to trump kindness and decency.

Works Cited:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/movies/capernaum-nadine-labaki.html

TRAILER for Capernaum:

A4 9AM