Capernaum (Arabic: کفرناحوم), also known as Capharnaüm, is a 2018 Lebanese drama film written and directed by Nadine Labaki. It was selected to compete for the Palme d'Or at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival,[2][3] where it won the Jury Prize.[4][5] The film received a 15-minute standing ovation following its premiere at Cannes on 17 May 2018.[6]
| Capernaum کفرناحوم | |
|---|---|
Film poster
| |
| Directed by | Nadine Labaki |
| Written by | Nadine Labaki Jihad Hojaily Michelle Keserwany Georges Khabbaz Khaled Mouzanar |
| Produced by | Michel Merkt Khaled Mouzanar |
| Starring | Zain Al Rafeea Yordanos Shiferaw Boluwatife Treasure Bankole |
| Cinematography | Christopher Aoun |
| Edited by | Konstantin Bock |
| Music by | Khaled Mouzanar |
Production | Mooz Films |
| Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics[1] |
Release date |
|
Running time | 130 minutes |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Language | Arabic |
Sony Pictures Classics, which had previously distributed Labaki's Where Do We Go Now?, bought North American and Latin American distribution rights for the film, while Wild Bunch retained the international rights.[7]
Capernaum has a 74% approval rating based on reviews by 27 critics on Rotten Tomatoes.[8] Variety's Jay Weissberg judged Capernaum to represent a substantial improvement in Labaki's direction, bringing "intelligence and heart" to its issue.[9] The Hollywood Reporter critic Leslie Felperin called it an effective melodrama.[10]OnVulture.com, Emily Yoshida called Zain Al Rafea "a startling, unforgettable presence". Yoshida also interpreted it as "one of the most forcefully pro-choice films I’ve ever seen", though abortion is not mentioned.[11]
A.A. Dowd wrote a mixed review on The A.V. Club, calling it a "sadness pile that confuses nonstop hardship for drama, begging for our tears at every moment".[12] IndieWire critic David Ehrlich also wrote a mixed review, calling it "an astonishing work of social-realism that’s diluted (and ultimately defeated) by an array of severe miscalculations".[13]
The film was selected as the Lebanese entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards.[14][15]
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | 29 November 2018 | Best Directing | Nadine Labaki | Pending | [16] |
| Best Actor | Zain Al Rafeea | Pending | |||
| British Independent Film Awards | 2 December 2018 | Best International Independent Film | Pending | [17] | |
| Calgary International Film Festival | 19–30 September 2018 | Audience Favourite, US/International Narrative Feature | Won | [18] | |
| Fan Favourite Award | Won | ||||
| Cannes Film Festival | 8–19 May 2018 | Jury Prize | Nadine Labaki | Won | [5] |
| Prize of the Ecumenical Jury | Won | ||||
| Film Fest Gent | 8–18 October 2018 | North Sea Port Audience Award | Won | [19] | |
| International Antalya Film Festival | 29 September–5 October 2018 | Best Actor | Zain Al Rafea | Won | [20][21] |
| Young Jury Award | Won | ||||
| Melbourne International Film Festival | 2–19 August 2018 | Audience Award | Won | [22] | |
| Miami International Film Festival | October 11 – 14 | Gigi Guermont Audience Award | Won | [23] | |
| Middleburg Film Festival | 18–21 October 2018 | Visionary Award | Nadine Labaki | Won | [24] |
| Mill Valley Film Festival | 3–13 October 2018 | Audience Favorite - Word Cinema – Gold | Won | [25] | |
| São Paulo International Film Festival | 18–31 October 2018 | Audience Award | Won | [26] | |
| Norwegian International Film Festival | August 2018 | Audience Award | Won | [27] | |
| San Sebastián International Film Festival | 21–29 September 2018 | Audience Award | 2nd Place | [28] | |
| Sarajevo Film Festival | 10–17 August 2018 | Audience Award | Won | [29] |
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