Worldbridger Film Series

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Thursday, January 30th, 2020
7:00 PM

Film: Capernaum

Directed by Nadine Labaki | 2018 | 126 min | Lebanon (subtitled) | R

Guest speaker: Dr. Ron Bonham, VIU Department of English (retired)

Set in the crowded and busy chaos of Beirut, Labaki’s docudrama tells the story of street kid, Zain, who is (perhaps!) 12 years of age. In and out of trouble and detention as he struggles to survive, Zain eventually decides to mount a legal case against his parents for giving birth to him. Overwhelmed by poverty, ignorance, and a brood of children, the parents desperately sell off one child and make no effort to find Zain when he takes off. On the streets, Zain befriends an Ethiopian illegal, Rabit, who has a baby son, Yonas. When Rabit is picked up by Lebanese officials, Zain is left to negotiate not only his own survival but also that of an infant child. An inspired and stunning film, Capernaum has won the praise of both critics and audiences worldwide for its integrity, and its relentless power matched by Zain’s determination to move beyond mere survival to endurance. Winner of Jury and Ecumenical prizes at Cannes and multiple international Audience awards.