Kefernahum (Film)

Capernaum (2018), directed by Nadine Labaki, is a drama film centered on themes of poverty and injustice. Zain, a Lebanese child child, escapes from his abusive family and struggles to survive on the Beirut streets. During this time, he crosses paths with Rahil, an Ethiopian refugee, and her infant son Yonas. Film explores Zain’s resilience despite his harsh circumstances and his eventual lawsuit against his parents. The film, screened at the Cannes Film Festival, has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Palme d’Or.

^{A still from the film Capernaum.}

Nadine Labaki

Nadine Labaki was born on 18 February 1974 in Beirut, Lebanon, and is regarded as one of the founding directors of contemporary Arab cinema. Labaki’s cinema prioritizes and aims to address social realism, powerful character storytelling, and humanistic themes. In her narratives, she focuses particularly on women’s rights, migration, poverty, and social injustice like, offering viewers insight into the social fabric of Lebanon and, more broadly, the East region.

^{Nadine Labaki.}

Labaki’s cinematic career gained international attention with her 2007 film Caramel, which portrayed the daily struggles of women living in Lebanon and received widespread critical acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival. Her most renowned work is the 2018 film Capernaum, which narrates the life of a child enduring neglect and poverty while also offering a social critique of migration and identity issues on.

Capernaum’s production involved extensive field research, reinforcing Labaki’s commitment to realistic cinema. Her choice to cast non-professional amateur actors and her use of improvised scenes strengthened the film’s authenticity and contributed to the global recognition of her work world.

^{Poster for the film Capernaum.}

Beyond her cinematic achievements, Labaki is also a prolific figure in other artistic domains. As an actress who also performs in her own films, she collaborates with her husband, Khaled Mouzanar, on the music for her projects. By serving on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival, Labaki has earned recognition in the international film community and seeks, through art, to foster change in Lebanese and Middle Eastern societies.