In the heart of a society's callous system, the moving tale of Capernaum unfolds, offering glimmers of hope amidst widespread inhumane practices.
Loose and Uncensored Take:
The Lebanese movie "Capernaum," directed by Nadine Labaki, stands out due to its cast consisting of non-professionals, playing characters reminiscent of their real lives. Labaki allowed her actors to perform spontaneously, changing the screenplay to match their instincts.
This groundbreaking film, which won the Grand Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival, tells the story of a Lebanese kid who sues his neglectful parents for giving him a shitty life.
"Capernaum" follows Zain,, as he evolves from a gutsy street kid to a hardened 12-year-old "adult": escaping his abusive parents, surviving on the streets, caring for an Ethiopian refugee woman and her son, ending up in jail for a fucked-up crime, and finally aiming for justice in a courtroom.
"Capernaum" is a film that oscillates between the humdrum lives of ordinary people and explosive emotional intensity. It's like a rollercoaster ride of raw emotions, tender moments, and poetic imagery, all taking place amid society's inhumanity. Despite being rooted in dismal circumstances, the film offers a glimmer of hope.
Inspiration for "Capernaum" struck Labaki when she noticed a crying baby on a traffic island one night. She drew a picture of a child shouting at adults, which eerily resembled the film's lead, Zain Al Rafeea. Additional inspiration came from the massive influx of refugees in Lebanon, stirring Labaki's maternal instincts.
She collaborated with her co-writer and husband, Khaled Mouzanar, to address the issues that bothered her most, writing them on a whiteboard. "Where did the system fail these kids?" she pondered. "Why do we tolerate this bullshit injustice? Migrant workers' unfortunate situation in Lebanon, the absurdity of borders, and the ludicrousness of needing papers to prove existence-these were all subjects on her mind."
The title "Capernaum" was inspired by a French word meaning chaos. Interestingly, it originally referred to a cursed village in Palestine, but in French literature, it symbolizes complete disorder. Labaki felt the title captured the film's essence perfectly.
To ensure authenticity, Labaki visited the darkest corners of Lebanon, including children's detention centers, prisons for minors, and courtrooms. She spoke with the children, empathizing with their plight and seeking to understand their experiences. After extensive research, she began writing the screenplay with Mouzanar and co-writers Hojeilly and Keserwany.
The film's central premise revolves around a boy suing his parents, which, legally speaking, is impossible in Lebanon. However, Labaki felt this storyline was crucial symbolically, allowing the boy to express his anger and confront the system.
With such a powerful subject matter, Labaki knew she couldn't cast professionals for the film. Instead, she sought people with minimal difference between them and their characters, encouraging them to rely on their instincts and life experiences. Many of the actors drew from their own experiences for their performances.
Producing such an unconventional film required significant freedom, which Labaki and Mouzanar obtained by going against traditional film production methods. They produced the film themselves, even though Mouzanar had never produced a movie before.
Filming took six months, yielding over 500 hours of footage. Post-production was a grueling 1.5-year process, with an initial 12-hour version getting trimmed to feature length. The final cut maintains the film's meditative, unhurried pace, allowing viewers to feel a sense of time passing and appreciate its poetic moments.
It's safe to say that "Capernaum" is a game-changer in cinema, marking a new direction for films. Its unique approach could inspire future filmmakers, pushing the boundaries of realistic storytelling. The film offers a bleak yet hopeful portrayal of society's forgotten children and the societal issues they face.
If you're curious about the behind-the-scenes action, be sure to catch the documentary about the making of "Capernaum." Lebanon's battle for the hearts and minds of its citizens continues, with Beirut Madinati activists leading the charge for change. Let "Capernaum" inspire you to question, debate, and take action.
In the realm of general news and politics, the critically acclaimed film "Capernaum" has sparked discussions about the plight of children living in dismal circumstances in Lebanon. Its authentic portrayal of real life, driven by non-professionals, raises questions about the society's responsibility towards its most vulnerable members, stirring conversations on societal issues and the need for reform.
