Capernaum is a MASTERPIECE. Nadine Labaki’s naturalistic yet still slightly aesthetically heightened direction is on full, brilliant display for two hours. The script she co-wrote with Jihad Hojaily and Michelle Keserwany uses effective melodrama in all the proper ways. Telling an emotionally gripping story about a young boy who has to make some large growing-up decisions very fast. This is tough and vital storytelling that demands your attention from the first moment.
The film rests on the idea that a kid might sue his parents for being unfit and bringing them into the world. But there’s more to it than that. Capernaum has some dark layers that will finally be revealed before the finale. Child actor Zain Al Rafeea gave a performance of such a high caliber that I’m not even sure he’ll ever truly understand just how “good” he was in the role. Sadly, when you read about the particulars of his real life I’m not sure a ton of “acting” was truly required. The filmmakers paint a portrait of life rarely seen on-screen. There are sights and moments contained in this picture that you’ll never forget.
Christopher Aoun’s widescreen cinematography is frequently stunning. Not in an epic or complicated fashion, but the fly-on-the-wall quality of the visuals had a pristine sense of clarity. The run-and-gun shooting style perfectly lined up with the busy, ever-shifting plot. I have nothing negative to say about this motion picture. The movie grossed a staggering $50 million in theaters ($40 million in China!), becoming the biggest grossing Lebanese/Arabic film of all-time. Seek it out – it will be available on Blu-ray/DVD and via various streaming providers.
Review by Nick Clement
Summary
A masterpiece from start to finish. This movie will likely be better than most of the films released this calendar year.
