Synopsis
Zain, a 12-year-old boy scrambling to survive on the streets of Beirut, sues his parents for having brought him into such an unjust world, where being a refugee with no documents means that your rights can easily be denied.
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Cast
- Zain Al RafeeaZain
- Yordanos ShiferaRahil
- Boluwatife Treasure BankoleYonas
- Kawsar Al HaddadSouad
- Fadi Kamel YousefSelim
- Cedra IzzamSahar
- Alaa ChouchniehAspro
- Elias KhouryThe Judge
- Nadine LabakiNadine
- Nour el HusseiniAssaad
- 100
The Telegraph
A social-realist blockbuster – fired by furious compassion and teeming with sorrow, yet strewn with diamond-shards of beauty, wit and hope. - 83
The Playlist
Capharnaüm is not without its issues. The director over-relies on the courtroom scenes and the movie’s message is heavy-handed at times. Yet, the sheer force of the filmmaking and its artful delivery overpowers sappy overreaching. - 80
Variety
While this is unquestionably an issue film, it tackles its subject with intelligence and heart. - 80
CineVue
Makes for a generally powerful statement on human misery and grotesque inequality, though some third act creative decisions and maneuvers cause a wobble or two. - 80
Time Out
It’s quietly absorbing and fitfully shocking as we experience the sights, sounds and smells of the streets where a one-year-old child can wander around alone without anyone stopping to wonder why. - 70
The Hollywood Reporter
Although the narrative is structured through a highly unbelievable instigating conceit — Zain is trying to sue his own parents in court for giving him life in the first place — Labaki lures such outstanding performances out of the almost entirely non-professional cast and sketches such a credible view of this wretchedly poor milieu that the flaws are mostly forgivable. - 70
Screen Daily
If it doesn’t tie many (or any) of these thematic strands with a neat bow, that’s in the nature of a film that chooses raw dramatic power over narrative finesse. - 60
The Guardian
It’s a simplistic film in some ways, with a naive ending – but there is energy and vigour, too.