A Cry for Tenderness: Deconstructing “Capernaum”
“Capernaum,” also poignantly known as “What Does Home Mean?”, pierces the soul with its raw depiction of a 12-year-old street child’s yearning for a family and a place to belong, ultimately soured by neglect and hardship. Beyond its immediate narrative, the film unearths profound social issues, leaving viewers deeply disturbed by the ever-present specter of war and the sheer vulnerability of children thrust into lives of precarity. It leaves a lingering wish, echoing the film’s concluding message: “May every child be treated with tenderness.”
Recent years have seen a surge of compelling cinema, from Hollywood juggernauts like “Avengers: Endgame” to the intricate suspense of Indian art films like “Andhadhun,” and emotionally resonant domestic dramas like “Teacher Good.” Each film carves its own niche, achieving acclaim and commercial success. Yet, amidst this vibrant landscape, “Capernaum,” a low-budget Lebanese film, has emerged, capturing global attention.
Winner of the Jury Prize at the 71st Cannes Film Festival and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, “Capernaum” boasts an impressive 8.9 rating on Douban andheld the top spot on the “Weekly Word-of-Mouth Chart” for three consecutive weeks. Rooted in true stories from Lebanon, the title itself, “Capernaum,” is derived from a biblical town—the place where Jesus began his ministry near the Sea of Galilee. Now a ruin, “Capernaum” serves as a stark synonym for the societal “disorder” and “chaos” meticulously portrayed in the film.
“I Want to Sue My Parents for Giving Birth to Me”
The film throws the audience directly into the center of the storm. In a courtroom, a frail, small boy named Zain stands as the plaintiff, his gaze fixed downwards, shadowed by something almost too big for his age. Asked by the judge why he is there, His reply is simple, “I want to sue my parents for giving birth to me”.
As Zain narrates his story, we are transported inside a Beirut slum: Zain endures a life marked by deprivation. Crammed into a shabby attic, he lives with his parents and vast number of siblings With his Syrian refugee Parents burdened by unemployment, survival dictates their opportunistic dealings in the black markets for resources. By 12, Zain already carries responsibilities exceeding his age. He hustles for money, cares for his youngest siblings, and manages the family’s responsibilities. Yet, the harsh realities still leave the 12 year old exposed to abuse from his parents.
Most tragically, at 12, Zain recognizes the dangerous, predatory “intentions” of landlord’s son Assad towards Zain’s younger sister, Sahar.Discovering Sahar’s first period puts Zain on high alert. He tries frantically to take matters into his own hands acting like a worried caring mother. He take her to a public bathroom, cleans her, and warns her to keep it a secret, because a very different “marriage prospect reality” for girls awaits her when the information gets out into the community. Zain begins attempting to provide menstruation sanitary supplies to prevent discovery. He schemes to create a means to escape with his sister away from their predestined, predetory lives. But all the efforts were in vain. Zain’s parents discover the truth about Sahar’s and arrange giving Sahar to Assad in exchange for the family not getting evicted.
Crushed, Zain flees. He desperately searches for work, but without success. Until he finds shelter with Rahil, an Ethiopian cleaner in the area, Rahil also happens to have an illegitimate child of her own, Yonas. Zain bonds with Yonas and feels the human warmth of a happy family for the first time.
A heartbreaking detail: surrounded by barren walls, 12-year-old Zain strains relentlessly to cease 1-year-old Yonas’s uncontrollable grief. Spontaneously discovering the mirror reflecting the neighbors cartoon animation, He immediately clutches the idea. What a slum-style genius plan. Yonas expresses excitement showing his pure joy… I felt myself filled with tears as my consciousness shifts thinking of the new toys and advanced digital experience enjoyed by many children here.
The bliss doesn’t last! The worst news is revealed: Rahil gets imprisoned. Zain begins to drift the streets now along side Yonas. Because support expenses begin to increase and resources dwindle drastically, Zain attempts to give Yonas to a “good person” agency, and hopes for his betterment.
Then, Returning to hopefully gain access to identification, his last hope is devastated when Zain is revealed that actually he also doesn’t even contain one, let alone begin his exodus abroad. Ultimately, the last push was hearing the passing of Sahr: Hospital refused to admit Sahar when she was hemorrhaging and bleeding during a miscarriage ultimately resulting in passing! Completely enraged and at his end, Zain violently stabs Sahar’s husband and is soon punished with for 5 years.
Zains mother in despair informs Zain inside his prison that she is pregnant yet again, adding to 8 siblings. Zain begins screaming in despair that his mother and father are nothing but useless, horrible, unintelligent people. And this ultimately leads to his bold and violent suit against his parents for giving birth. So the story folds back into the beginning of the film with a courtroom. During which he blasts, ““I want adults to listen to me. I hope people who can’t afford to raise children don’t have them. All I remember is violence, insults, beatings, chains, pipes, belts. The gentlest words I’ve heard are, ‘Get out, you son of a bitch,’ ‘Get out, you trash’.”
Digging for Hope Amongst the Hardships
As we navigate the film from the beginning, a clear picture soon shows itself. The audience is clearly brought to tears for the the sake of the young souls, the despair, and the bleak fate forced to live in it… But to pursue hope, it becomes very clear that we must extract the CAUSE, or the ULTIMATE CULPRIT responsible for it all!
Is Assad the cause? He is extremely and obviously not an ethical, conscious, human being. However, he only acts because of the society created before him to be true… It is traditional and ethical and that he is a savior. As explained in the courtroom, ”My mother-in-law was also married in her early ages.”
Are Zain’s parents at fault? We are informed by his surroundings that Zain’s parents are obviously horrible and lack consciousness as well? Well their reality is even more sad than you think when we soon discover both their reality… The standards are unreachable and vague! They themselves are actually very helpless and have no identity making them extremely vulnerable and helpless! Zain’s father voices, “Anyone can violate us” , With Zains mother shortly explaining as well “I have lived a life of pain, supporting my children through everything”. This is then addressed to the lawyer who explains it all well, that if ”You lived a day in our lives, you may want to throw yourself off somewhere” This doesnt mean Zains parents are ethical or pure in nature, but they can be seen in no way of malicious intent… However tragic their lives had become .
As time progress’ in the plot, one crucial theme soon reveals itself in this movie: People of No Home is more important than you all think. “Identity” is the ultimate darkness! No home results in constant fear. Zains parents simply cannot survive without documentation: no ID results in lost dreams and a shattered warmth from their kids. With no ID, Zain is forced to live and walk and drift like an untethering human being, resulting in a shattered soul…
“Capernaum” offers a glimpse of comfort: Mason immigrates to Sweden. Zain immigrates to Norway! As long as expectations persists, hope prevails!