Capernaum (film): Difference between revisions

{{short description|2018 film directed by Nadine Labaki}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

| name = Capernaum

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| native_name = {{Infobox name module

| language = Arabic

| title = {{noitalic|كفرناحوم}}{{lrm}}

}}

| screenplay = {{Plainlist|

* Nadine Labaki

* Jihad Hojaily

* Michelle Keserwany

}}

| story = {{Plainlist|

* Georges Khabbaz

* Nadine Labaki

* Michelle Keserwany

* Jihad Hojaily

* [[Khaled Mouzanar]]

}}

| producer = {{Plainlist|

* Khaled Mouzanar

* Michel Merkt

}}

| starring = {{Plainlist|

* [[Zain Al Rafeea]]

* Yordanos Shiferaw

* Boluwatife Bankole

* Kawthar Al Haddad

* Fadi Kamel Youssef

* Nour el Husseini

* Alaa Chouchnieh

* Cedra Izam

* Nadine Labaki

* Joseph Jimbazian

* Farah Hasno

* Boluwatife Treasure Bankole

}}

| cinematography = [[Christopher Aoun]]

| editing = {{Plainlist|

* Konstantin Bock

* [[Laure Gardette]]

}}

| distributor = [[Sony Pictures Classics]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/sony-pictures-classics-nabs-nadine-labakis-palme-dor-contender-capharnaum-1202805632/|title=Sony Pictures Classics Nabs Nadine Labaki's Palme d'Or Contender 'Capernaum'|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=10 May 2018|access-date=17 May 2018}}</ref>

| released = {{film date|2018|5|17|[[2018 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes]]|2018|9|20|Lebanon|df=yes}}

| runtime = 126 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/capernaum-2018|title=Capernaum (2018)|publisher=[[British Board of Film Classification]]|access-date=27 February 2019}}</ref>

| language = [[Levantine Arabic]]

| budget = {{US$|4 million|long=no}}

| gross = {{US$|68.6 million|long=no}}<ref name="NUM"/>

'''''Capernaum''''' ({{lang-ar|كفرناحوم{{lrm}}|Cafarnaüm}}) is a 2018 [[Cinema of Lebanon|Lebanese]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Nadine Labaki]] and produced by [[Khaled Mouzanar]]. The screenplay was written by Labaki, Jihad Hojaily and Michelle Keserwany from a story by Labaki, Hojaily, Keserwany, [[Georges Khabbaz]] and [[Khaled Mouzanar]]. The film stars [[Syrian refugee]] child actor [[Zain Al Rafeea]] as Zain El Hajj, a 12-year-old living in the slums of [[Beirut]]. ''Capernaum'' is told in [[flashback (narrative)|flashback]] format, focusing on Zain's life, including his encounter with an Ethiopian immigrant Rahil and her infant son Yonas, and leading up to his attempt to sue his parents for [[child neglect]].

The film debuted at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival]], where it was selected to compete for the [[Palme d'Or]],<ref name="select">{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/infos-communiques/communique/articles/the-2018-official-selection|title=The 2018 Official Selection|work=Cannes|date=12 April 2018|access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref><ref name="Variety">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-lineup-includes-new-films-from-spike-lee-jean-luc-godard-1202751300/|title=Cannes Lineup Includes New Films From Spike Lee, Jean-Luc Godard|work=Variety|date=12 April 2018|access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref> and won the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival)|Jury Prize]].<ref name="Pond">{{cite web |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/the-wrap/article/Cannes-Film-Festival-Winners-Updating-Live-12928006.php |title='Shoplifters' Wins Palme d'Or at 2018 Cannes Film Festival |first=Pond |last=Steve |date=19 May 2018 |access-date=19 May 2018 |work=[[SF Gate]]}}</ref><ref name="main-prizes">{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/cannes-film-festival-2018-award-winners-palme-d-or-1202816743/|title=2018 Cannes Film Festival Award Winners Announced |first=Peter |last= Debruge |date=19 May 2018 |access-date=20 May 2018 |work=Variety}}</ref> ''Capernaum'' received a 15-minute standing ovation following its premiere at Cannes on 17 May 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/05/nadine-labaki-capernaum-cannes-standing-ovation-palme-dor-1201965910/|title=Nadine Labaki's 'Capernaum' Earns Massive Cannes Standing Ovation and Instant Palme d'Or Winner Predictions|first1=Zack|last1=Sharf|date=17 May 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/global/sony-pictures-classics-nabs-nadine-labakis-palme-dor-contender-capharnaum-1202805632/|title=Sony Pictures Classics Nabs Nadine Labaki's Palme d'Or Contender 'Capernaum'|first1=Elsa|last1=Keslassy|date=10 May 2018}}</ref> It received a wider release on 20 September 2018.

''Capernaum'' received critical acclaim, with particular praise given to Labaki's direction, Al Rafeea's performance and the film's "documentary-like realism".<ref>{{cite web |title=Capernaum (Capharnaüm) (2018) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/capernaum |access-date=9 January 2019 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] }}</ref> Writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Manohla Dargis]] and [[A. O. Scott]] named it as one of the greatest films of 2018.<ref name="NY Times Review">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/05/movies/best-movies.html|title=Best Movies of 2018|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=5 December 2018|access-date=27 February 2019|last1=Dargis|first1=Manohla|last2=Scott|first2=A. O.}}</ref> It was nominated for the [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[91st Academy Awards]],<ref name="Jan19">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46917940 |title=Oscars 2019: The nominees in full |work=BBC News |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019}}</ref> among several other accolades.

''Capernaum'' is both the highest-grossing [[Arab cinema|Arabic]] and [[Cinema of the Middle East|Middle Eastern film]] of all time, after becoming a [[sleeper hit]] at the international box office with over {{US$|68 million|long=no}} worldwide, against a production budget of {{US$|4 million|long=no}}. Its largest international market is China, where it became a surprise blockbuster with over {{US$|54 million|long=no}}.

==Plot==

Zain El Hajj, a 12-year-old from the slums of [[Beirut]], is serving a five-year prison sentence in [[Roumieh Prison]] for stabbing someone whom he refers to as a "son of a bitch". Neither Zain nor his parents know his exact date of birth as they never applied/received an official birth certificate. Zain is brought before a [[court]], having decided to take [[lawsuit|civil action]] against his parents, his mother, Souad, and his father, Selim. When asked by the judge why he wants to sue his parents, Zain answers "Because I was born" (or, more precisely, "because you had me"). Meanwhile, Lebanese authorities process a group of [[migrant workers]], including a young Ethiopian woman named Rahil.

The story then flashes back several months to before Zain was arrested. Zain lives with his parents and takes care of at least seven younger siblings who make money in various schemes instead of going to school. He uses forged [[medical prescription|prescriptions]] to purchase [[tramadol]] pills from multiple pharmacies, which they crush into powder and soak them into clothes, which his brother sells to drug addicts in prison. Zain also works as a delivery boy for Assad, the family's landlord, and the owner of a local market stall. One morning, Zain helps his 11-year-old sister Sahar to hide the evidence of her first [[menstrual cycle|period]], fearing she will be married to Assad if her parents discover that she can now become pregnant.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhasin |first1=Nick |title=I thought I was strong, but 'Capharnaüm' tore me apart |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/movies/article/2019/02/11/i-thought-i-was-strong-capharnaum-tore-me-apart |access-date=28 December 2019 |work=SBS Movies |date=13 February 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Beirut Luna Park entrance 2019.jpg|thumb|left|The entrance to [[Luna Park]], [[Ras Beirut]], where Zain meets Rahil.]]

Zain makes plans to escape with Sahar and begin a new life. However, his suspicions are proven correct as her parents marry off Sahar to Assad in exchange for two chickens. Furious at his parents, Zain runs away and catches a bus, where he meets an elderly man dressed in a [[knock-off]] [[Spider-Man]] costume who calls himself "Cockroach Man". Cockroach Man gets off the bus at the [[Luna Park]] in [[Ras Beirut]] and Zain follows him, spending the rest of the day at the park. While on the [[Ferris wheel]], Zain sees a beautiful sunset and begins to cry. Later, Zain meets Rahil, an Ethiopian migrant worker who is working as a cleaner at the park. She takes pity on Zain and agrees to let him live with her at her tin shack in exchange for Zain babysitting her undocumented infant son Yonas when she is at work.

Rahil's forged migrant documents are due to expire soon, and she does not have enough money to pay her forger Aspro for new documents. Aspro offers to forge the documents for free if she gives Yonas to him so that Yonas can be adopted. Rahil refuses, despite Aspro's claims that Yonas' undocumented status will mean he can never receive an education or be employed. Rahil's documents expire and she is arrested by Lebanese authorities. After she does not return to the shack, Zain panics. Several days pass, and Zain begins looking after Yonas on his own, claiming that they are brothers, and begins selling tramadol again to earn money.

One day, while at Souk Al Ahad, where Aspro is based, Zain meets a young girl named Maysoun. Maysoun is a [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian refugee]] and claims that Aspro has agreed to send her to [[Sweden]]. Zain demands that Aspro send him to Sweden as well, which Aspro agrees to do if Zain gives him Yonas. Zain reluctantly agrees, and Aspro tells him that he will need some form of identification to become a refugee. Zain returns to his parents and demands they give him his identification, to which they laughingly tell him he doesn't have any. Having disowned him for leaving, they kick him out of their house, but not before revealing that Sahar had recently died due to difficulties with her pregnancy. Furious, Zain takes a large knife, runs out the house and stabs Assad. Zain is arrested and sentenced to five years at Roumieh Prison.

While in prison, during a visit from his mother, Zain learns that Souad is pregnant yet again and plans to name the child Sahar. Disgusted by his mother's lack of remorse for her daughter's death, he tells her not to visit again, calling her "heartless". During a TV show requesting call-in commentary on child abuse, Zain contacts the media and says that he is tired of parents neglecting their children and plans to sue his parents for continuing to have children when they cannot take care of them. When the judge asks him what he wants from his parents, he says "I want them to stop having children", as he does not want them to suffer the neglect he has. Zain also alleges that Aspro is adopting children illegally and mistreating them. Aspro's house is raided and the children and parents are reunited, including Yonas and Rahil.

Zain's photo is taken for his ID card. The photographer cracks a joke at Zain's sour disposition—"It's your ID card, not your death certificate"—and Zain manages a smile.

[[File:Cannes 2018 25.jpg|thumb|right|Cast and director at the [[2018 Cannes Film Festival]].]]

*[[Zain Al Rafeea]] as Zain El Hajj, a 12-year-old boy living in the slums of [[Beirut]]

*Yordanos Shiferaw as Rahil (also known as Tigest), an undocumented Ethiopian woman who works as a cleaner at an [[amusement park]]

*Boluwatife Treasure Bankole (a girl) as Yonas, Rahil's undocumented son<ref>Robin Pomeroy, Hanna Rantala, [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-filmfestival-cannes-capharnaum/tipped-for-cannes-glory-beirut-slum-actors-play-their-real-lives-idUSKCN1IJ28O "Tipped for Cannes glory, Beirut slum actors play their real lives"], Reuters, 18 May 2018.</ref>

*Kawthar Al Haddad as Souad, Zain's mother

*Fadi Kamel Youssef as Selim, Zain's father

*Nour el Husseini as Assad, the owner of a local market and Sahar's husband

*Alaa Chouchnieh as Aspro, Rahil's forger

*Cedra Izzam as Sahar, Zain's sister

*[[Nadine Labaki]] as Nadine, Zain's lawyer

*Joseph Jimbazian as Mr. Harout (also known as Cockroach Man), an employee at an amusement park

*Farah Hasno as Maysoun, a young [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian refugee]]

==Production==

Screenwriter and director [[Nadine Labaki]] described the conception of the film:

{{quote|At the end of the day, ... children are really paying a very high price for our conflicts, and our wars, and our systems, and our stupid decisions, and governments. I felt the need to talk about the problem, and I was thinking, if those children could talk, or could express themselves, what would they say? What would they tell us, this society that ignores them?<ref name="Grobar">{{cite web |title='Capernaum' Director On The High Price Children Are Paying For Society's Mistakes — Awardsline Screening Series |url=https://deadline.com/video/capernaum-nadine-labaki-khaled-mouzanar-oscars-panel-news/ |first=Matt |last=Grobar|date=15 November 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] }}</ref>}}

The film was produced on a budget of {{US$|4 million|long=no}}.<ref name="businessnews">{{cite news |title=Labaki's film rights sold in 60 countries. Initial cost of Capharnaüm already covered |url=http://www.businessnews.com.lb/cms/Story/StoryDetails/6531/Labakis-film-rights-sold-in-60-countries |access-date=12 May 2019 |work=BusinessNews.com.lb |date=12 May 2019}}</ref> Producer Khaled Mouzanar took out a [[mortgage]] on his house to raise a budget.<ref name="LATimesStaff"/>

[[Zain Al Rafeea]], a Syrian refugee living in the slums of Beirut since 2012, was 12 during production.<ref name="Welk">{{cite web |title='Capernaum' Director Nadine Labaki Says Refugee Child Star Is Safe and Resettled (Video) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/capernaum-director-nadine-labaki-says-refugee-child-star-is-safe-and-resettled-video/ |first=Brian |last=Welk |date=20 November 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |work=[[The Wrap]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Child actor's journey from slums to stardom |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-47292484/from-slums-to-stardom-how-young-star-s-life-has-changed |access-date=11 May 2019 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=20 February 2019}}</ref> Al Rafeea's character, Zain, is named for him.<ref name="Grobar"/> Many of the other actors were novices, which Labaki described as necessary because she wanted "a real struggle on that big screen".<ref name="LATimesStaff">{{cite web |title='Capernaum' team on Cannes success and the importance of using non-professional actors |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-en-capernaum-live-20181120-story.html |last=Staff |date=21 November 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref> Al Rafeea contributed to shaping the film's dialogue, drawing on his experiences as a refugee living in a slum.<ref>{{cite news |title=From Syrian refugee to Oscar nominee, 'Capernaum' star gets second chance at childhood in Norway |url=https://www.pri.org/stories/2019-02-21/syrian-refugee-oscar-nominee-capernaum-star-gets-second-chance-childhood-norway |access-date=18 May 2019 |work=[[Public Radio International]] |date=21 February 2019}}</ref>

Although [[Nadine Labaki|Labaki]] is also an actress, she gave herself only a small role, preferring the [[Neorealist film|realist]] actors to draw from their own experiences.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cannes: Nadine Labaki on 'Capernaum' and Resisting the Lure of Hollywood |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-nadine-labaki-capernaum-resisting-lure-hollywood-1110438 |first=Alex |last=Ritman |date=9 May 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] }}</ref> Shooting lasted six months and resulted in 500 hours<ref name=":0">{{Citation|title=Cannes interview with Cast and Crew of Capernaum, "All eyes on Ethiopian Actress Yordanos Shiferaw"|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDJac9qi0cE|language=en|access-date=20 October 2019}}</ref> of [[Dailies|rushes]], which took her and her editing team a year and a half to edit down to 2 hours.<ref name=":0" /> The first version of the film was 12 hours long,<ref name="Welk"/><ref name=":0" /> but working in sometimes 24-hour editing shifts with her editors, she was able to cut the film in time. She became very close to her editing team over this period and referred to them, and her crew, as her family.

===Box office===

{{As of|2019|May|26}}, the film has grossed $68,583,867 worldwide,<ref name="NUM">{{cite web |title=Cafarnaúm (2018) - Financial Information |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Cafarnaum-(Lebanon)-(2018)#tab=international |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=26 May 2019}}</ref> against a production budget of {{US$|4 million|long=no}}.<ref name="businessnews"/> It has become the highest-grossing [[Arab cinema|Arabic film]], and the highest-grossing [[Cinema of the Middle East|Middle Eastern film]] of all time,<ref>{{cite news |title='Capernaum' Director Nadine Labaki Celebrates $40M+ Chinese Box Office: "It's a Big Surprise" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/capernaum-director-nadine-labaki-40m-chinese-box-office-1211193 |access-date=19 May 2019 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=16 May 2019}}</ref> surpassing the {{US$|21 million|long=no}} box office record of Labaki's earlier film ''[[Where Do We Go Now?]]'' (2012).<ref name="arabamericannews">{{cite news |title=Lebanese filmmakers' movie 'Capharnaum' wins Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival |url=https://www.arabamericannews.com/2018/05/25/lebanese-filmmakers-movie-capharnum-wins-jury-prize-at-cannes-film-festival/ |access-date=11 May 2019 |work=[[The Arab American News]] |date=25 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |title='Capernaum' Director Nadine Labaki Signs With CAA |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/capernaum-director-nadine-labaki-signs-caa-1202388485/ |access-date=11 May 2019 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]] |date=11 May 2018}}</ref>

The film had a limited release in the United States and Canada on 14 December 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cafarnaúm |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Cafarnaum-(Lebanon) |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=8 May 2019}}</ref> The film went on to gross $1,661,096 in the United States and Canada, {{as of|2019|May|30|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Capernaum (2018) |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=capernaum.htm |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref> Outside of the United States and Canada, the film has grossed {{US$|66.925 million|long=no}} in international markets, {{as of|2019|May|26|lc=y}}.<ref name="NUM"/>

It released in China on 29 April 2019, and debuted at number two there, behind ''[[Avengers: Endgame]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Daily Box Office > China |url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=04%20/29%20/2019 |website=EntGroup |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref> ''Capernaum'' became a sleeper hit in China, with the help of strong word-of-mouth on Chinese social media (including platforms such as [[Douban]] and [[TikTok]]).<ref name="screendaily">{{cite news |last1=Shackleton |first1=Liz |title=How Nadine Labaki's 'Capernaum' became a $44m sleeper hit in China |url=https://www.screendaily.com/features/how-nadine-labakis-capernaum-became-a-44m-sleeper-hit-in-china/5139472.article |access-date=18 May 2019 |work=[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]] |date=16 May 2019}}</ref> By 5 May 2019, ''Capernaum'' had grossed {{US$|25.22 million|long=no}} in China,<ref>{{cite web |title=Daily Box Office > China |url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=05%20/05%20/2019 |website=EntGroup |date=5 May 2019 |access-date=5 May 2019}}</ref> becoming the weekend's second top-grossing film internationally, behind only ''Avengers: Endgame''.<ref>{{cite news |title='Avengers Endgame' nears global record with over $2 billion |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Avengers-Endgame-nears-global-record-with-over-13820603.php |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=[[Houston Chronicle]] |date=5 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505202316/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/article/Avengers-Endgame-nears-global-record-with-over-13820603.php |archive-date=5 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the961.com/news/labakis-capernaum-ranks-2nd-top-grossing-film-in-china-just-after-avengers-endgame|title=Labaki's Capernaum Ranks 2nd Top-Grossing Film in China Just After Avengers Endgame|last=Kabboul|first=Tamarah|website=www.the961.com|language=en-ca|access-date=8 May 2019|archive-date=8 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508055007/https://www.the961.com/news/labakis-capernaum-ranks-2nd-top-grossing-film-in-china-just-after-avengers-endgame|url-status=dead}}</ref> By 16 May 2019, the film had crossed {{CNY|300 million}} ({{US$|44 million|long=no}}) in China,<ref name="screendaily"/> in just over two weeks, becoming a surprise blockbuster at the Chinese box office.<ref>{{cite news |title=INTERVIEW: Lebanese filmmaker Nadine Labaki on heading a Cannes jury and the surprise success of 'Capernaum' in China |url=http://www.arabnews.com/node/1501206/art-culture |access-date=27 May 2019 |work=[[Arab News]] |date=23 May 2019}}</ref> {{As of|2019|June|29}}, the film has grossed $54,315,148 in China.<ref name="NUM"/>

===Critical response===

''Capernaum'' has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on reviews by {{RT data|count}} critics on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critics consensus reads, "''Capernaum'' hits hard, but rewards viewers with a smart, compassionate, and ultimately stirring picture of lives in the balance."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/capernaum|title=Capernaum (2018)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date|df=dmy}}}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 75 out of 100 based on reviews from 33 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Capernaum (2018) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/capernaum |access-date=15 January 2019 |website=[[Metacritic]] }}</ref>

Many reviews were highly positive. [[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' ranked it as the ninth greatest film of 2018, writing "naturalism meets melodrama in this harrowing, hectic tale of a lost boy’s adventures in the slums and shantytowns of Beirut...Labaki refuses to lose sight of the exuberance, grit and humor that people hold onto even in moments of the greatest desperation."<ref name="NY Times Review" /> ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]''{{'}}s Jay Weissberg judged ''Capernaum'' to represent a substantial improvement in Labaki's direction, bringing "intelligence and heart" to its issue.<ref>{{cite web |title=Film Review: 'Capernaum' |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/reviews/capernaum-review-capharnaum-1202814614/ |last=Weissberg |first=Jay |access-date=1 November 2018 |date=17 May 2018 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] }}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' critic Leslie Felperin called it an effective [[melodrama]].<ref>{{cite web |title='Capharnaum': Film Review Cannes 2018 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/capharnaum-review-1112973 |last=Felperin |first=Leslie |access-date=1 November 2018 |date=17 May 2018 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] }}</ref> On [[Vulture.com]], Emily Yoshida called Zain Al Rafeea "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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prepare to Be Blown Away by the Child Actors in the Heartbreaking Capharnaüm |url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/05/capharnam-review.html |first=Emily |last=Yoshida |date=18 May 2018 |access-date=1 November 2018 |website=[[Vulture.com]] }}</ref>

Some reviews were more mixed. Writing for ''[[The A.V. Club]]'', A.A. Dowd called the film a "sadness pile that confuses nonstop hardship for drama, begging for our tears at every moment".<ref>{{cite web |title=The best movies of Cannes 2018, plus a serious Palme D'Or threat at the end of the festival |url=https://film.avclub.com/the-best-movies-of-cannes-2018-plus-a-serious-palme-do-1826130650 |last=Dowd |first=A.A. |access-date=1 November 2018 |date=18 May 2018 |work=[[The A.V. Club]] }}</ref> ''[[IndieWire]]'' critic David Ehrlich also wrote a mixed review, calling it "an astonishing work of [[Social realism|social-realism]] that's diluted (and ultimately defeated) by an array of severe miscalculations".<ref>{{cite web |title='Capernaum' Review: Despite the Best Baby Performance Ever, Nadine Labaki's Latest Is a Well-Intentioned Mess — Cannes 2018 |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2018/05/capernaum-review-nadine-labaki-cannes-2018-1201966059/ |last=Ehrlich |first=David |access-date=1 November 2018 |date=18 May 2018 |work=[[IndieWire]] }}</ref>

The film was selected as the Lebanese entry for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] at the [[91st Academy Awards]].<ref name="Lebanon">{{cite web |url=http://www.14march.org/news-details.php?nid=ODk2OTQz |title=الثقافة: فيلم المخرجة لبكي『كفرناحوم』الى الأوسكار |work=14march.org |date=18 September 2018 |access-date=18 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918194019/http://www.14march.org/news-details.php?nid=ODk2OTQz |archive-date=18 September 2018 |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref name="Lebanon2">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/lebanon-selects-capharnaum-foreign-language-category-2019-oscars-1145277 |title=Oscars: Lebanon Selects 'Capharnaum' for Foreign-Language Category |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first=Vladimir |last=Kozlov |date=18 September 2018 |access-date=18 September 2018}}</ref> It made the December shortlist in 2018,<ref name="Dec18">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/academy-unveils-2019-oscar-shortlists-1168394/item/best-documentary-feature-1168386 |title=Academy Unveils 2019 Oscar Shortlists |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=17 December 2018 |access-date=18 December 2018}}</ref> before being nominated for the Academy Award in January 2019.<ref name="Jan19"/>

! scope="row"| [[91st Academy Awards|Academy Awards]]

| rowspan="1"| [[91st Academy Awards|24 February 2019]]

| [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]

| [[Lebanon]]

| {{nom}}

| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://oscar.go.com/nominees/foreign-language-film |title=Oscar Nominees |date=22 January 2019 |access-date=22 January 2019 }}</ref>

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2| [[Alliance of Women Film Journalists]]

| rowspan=2| 10 January 2019

| Best Non-English Film

| rowspan=3| [[Nadine Labaki]]

| {{nom}}

| rowspan=2| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://awfj.org/eda-awards-2/2018-eda-award-nominees/ |title=2018 EDA Award Nominees |access-date=21 December 2018 |publisher=[[Alliance of Women Film Journalists]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221184445/https://awfj.org/eda-awards-2/2018-eda-award-nominees/?doing_wp_cron=1545417884.7315959930419921875000 |archive-date=21 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

|-

| [[Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Woman Director|Best Woman Director]]

| {{nom}}

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2| [[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]]

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |title=2018 APSA Nominees Announced |url=https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/news-events/2018-apsa-nominees-announced |access-date=24 October 2018 |date=17 October 2018 |publisher=[[Asia Pacific Screen Awards]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/asia/shoplifters-best-film-asia-pacific-screen-awards-1203040322/ |title='Shoplifters' Takes Top Prize at Asia Pacific Screen Awards |last=Frater |first=Patrick |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=29 October 2018 |access-date=29 November 2018 }}</ref>

| {{nom}}

|-

! scope="row"| [[British Academy Film Awards]]

| rowspan="1"| [[72nd British Academy Film Awards|10 February 2019]]

| [[BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language|Best Film Not in the English Language]]

| [[Nadine Labaki]], [[Khaled Mouzanar]]

| {{nom}}

| | <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bafta.org/film/awards/ee-british-academy-film-awards-nominees-winners-2019 |title=EE British Academy Film Awards Nominees in 2019 |last=Brown |first=Mark |publisher=[[British Academy Film Awards]] |date=9 January 2019 |access-date=9 January 2019 }}</ref>

! scope="row"| [[British Independent Film Awards]]

| Nadine Labaki, Jihad Hojeily, Michelle Keserwani, Khaled Mouzanar and Michel Merkt

| {{nom}}

| | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/oct/31/the-favourite-british-independent-film-award-nominations-bifas |title=The Favourite dominates British independent film award nominations |last=Brown |first=Mark |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=31 October 2018 |access-date=31 October 2018 }}</ref>

! scope="row" rowspan=2| [[Calgary International Film Festival]]

| rowspan="2" | Nadine Labaki

| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |title=2018 Audience & Fan Favourite Awards |url=https://www.calgaryfilm.com/blog/2018-10-04/2018-audience-fan-favourite-awards |access-date=4 October 2018 |ref=calgaryaward |archive-date=5 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005071921/https://www.calgaryfilm.com/blog/2018-10-04/2018-audience-fan-favourite-awards |url-status=dead }}</ref>

! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[Cannes Film Festival]]

| rowspan="3" | [[2018 Cannes Film Festival|8–19 May 2018]]

| [[Palme d'Or]]

| rowspan="3" | Nadine Labaki

| {{nom}}

| <ref name="select"/>

|-

| <ref name="Pond"/>

| {{won}}

|

|-

! scope="row"| [[César Award]]

| [[44th César Awards|22 February 2019]]

| [[César Award for Best Foreign Film|Best Foreign Film]]

| ''Capernaum''

| {{nom}}

| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.academie-cinema-membre.org/fichiersexternes/Presse/Documents/2019/Liste%20des%20Nominations%20aux%20Cesar%202019%20-%20Officiel.pdf |title=Liste des Nominations aux Cesar 2019 |access-date=23 January 2019 |date=22 January 2019 |publisher=[[César Award]]}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[Chicago Film Critics Association]]

| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Awards 2018|8 December 2018]]

| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]

| ''Capernaum''

| {{nom}}

| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/2018/12/7/2018-chicago-film-critics-association-awards |title=2018 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards |access-date=7 December 2018 |date=7 December 2018 |publisher=[[Chicago Film Critics Association]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208040148/https://chicagofilmcritics.org/awards-blog/2018/12/7/2018-chicago-film-critics-association-awards |archive-date=8 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[Critics' Choice Movie Awards]]

| [[24th Critics' Choice Awards|13 January 2019]]

| [[Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]

| ''Capernaum''

| {{Nominated}}

| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/2019-critics-choice-awards-nominations-the-complete-list.html |title=The Favourite, Black Panther Lead Critics' Choice Awards Nominations |first=Hunter |last=Harris |access-date=10 December 2018 |date=10 December 2018 |website=[[Vulture.com]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211012930/https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/2019-critics-choice-awards-nominations-the-complete-list.html |archive-date=11 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2" | [[Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie|FICFA]]

| rowspan="2" | 15–23 November 2018

| [[Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie#Prix La Vague|Best Foreign Film]]

| rowspan="4" | Nadine Labaki

| {{won}}

| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite web |title=Les lauréats des Prix La vague 2018 sont dévoilés |url=http://www.ficfa.com/nouvelles/les-laureats-des-prix-la-vague-2018-sont-devoiles |access-date=8 December 2018 |ref=ficfaawards}}</ref>

|-

| scope="row" | [[Festival international du cinéma francophone en Acadie#Prix La Vague|Audience Award]]

! scope="row" | [[Film Fest Gent]]

| <ref>{{cite web |title='Capharnaüm' wins the North Sea Port Audience Award |url=https://www.filmfestival.be/en/news/capharnam-wins-the-north-sea-port-audience-award/22-10-2018/3654 |access-date=22 October 2018 |ref=filmfestgent |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928122954/https://www.filmfestival.be/en/news/capharnam-wins-the-north-sea-port-audience-award/22-10-2018/3654 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

! scope="row" | [[Globes de Cristal Awards]]

| 4 February 2019

| Best Foreign Film

| {{nom}}

| <ref>{{cite web |title=Les nominations pour Les Globes de Cristal 2019 |url=https://www.globesdecristal.com/14eme-ceremonie-des-globes-de-cristal-decouvrez-la-liste-des-nommes/ |access-date=27 November 2018 |ref=crystalglobes}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globes]]

| rowspan="1" | [[76th Golden Globe Awards|6 January 2019]]

| [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]

| ''Capernaum''

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="1" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-golden-globes-2019-nominees-winners-list-2019-story.html |title='Vice,' 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace' lead 2019 Golden Globe nominations |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=6 December 2018 |access-date=6 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206143125/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-golden-globes-2019-nominees-winners-list-2019-story.html |archive-date=6 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"|[[Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro]]

| 11 October 2020

| Best Foreign Long Film

| rowspan="1" |''Capernaum''

| {{nom}}

|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gp2020.academiabrasileiradecinema.com.br/release-vencedores/|title='BACURAU' É O GRANDE VENCEDOR DO 19º GRANDE PRÊMIO DO CINEMA BRASILEIRO|website=Academia Brasileira de Cinema|access-date=19 January 2023|archive-date=29 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829183834/http://gp2020.academiabrasileiradecinema.com.br/release-vencedores/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row" rowspan=2| [[International Antalya Film Festival]]

| Zain Al Rafeea

| rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite tweet |user=AntalyaFilmFestivali |number=1048262282017472518 |date=5 October 2018 |title=🍊 Genç Jüri Ödülü / Young Jury Award 🎬 Kefernahum / Capernaum }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |user=AntalyaFilmFestivali |number=1048273032874217473 |date=5 October 2018 |title=🍊 En İyi Erkek Oyuncu / Best Actor 🎬 Zain Al Rafeea (Kefernahum / Capernaum)}}</ref>

| rowspan="7" | Nadine Labaki

| {{won}}

|-

! scope="row"| [[International Film Festival Rotterdam]]

| 23 January – 3 February 2019

| IFFR Audience Award

| {{won}}

|<ref>{{cite tweet |user=IFFR |number=1091367875770703873 |date=1 February 2019 |title=Congratulations to the winner of the IFFR Audience Award!}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[Leeds International Film Festival]]

| 1–15 November 2018

| [[Leeds International Film Festival#LIFF Programme Sections and Awards|Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature]]

|<ref>{{cite web |title=Capernaum wins the LIFF 2018 Audience Award for Best Fiction Feature |url=https://www.leedsfilmcity.com/news/capernaum-wins-the-liff-2018-audience-award-for-best-fiction-feature/ |access-date=16 November 2018 |ref=liffaward |archive-date=26 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526150638/https://www.leedsfilmcity.com/news/capernaum-wins-the-liff-2018-audience-award-for-best-fiction-feature/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

! scope="row"| [[Melbourne International Film Festival]]

|<ref>{{cite web |title=MIFF 2018 Audience Awards |url=http://miff.com.au/rate/audience-awards |access-date=25 September 2018 |ref=melbourneaward |archive-date=3 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191203102919/http://miff.com.au/rate/audience-awards |url-status=dead }}</ref>

! scope="row"| [[Miami International Film Festival]]

| 11–14 October

|<ref>{{cite web |title=Capernaum wins the Gigi Guermont Audience Award! |url=https://miamifilmfestival.com/2018/10/capernaum-wins-the-gigi-guermont-audience-award/ |access-date=15 October 2018 |ref=miamiaward |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526150638/https://miamifilmfestival.com/2018/10/capernaum-wins-the-gigi-guermont-audience-award/ |archive-date=26 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

! scope="row"| [[Mill Valley Film Festival]]

| Audience Favorite - World Cinema, Gold Award

|<ref>{{cite web |title=MVFF41 Audience Favorite |url=https://www.mvff.com/mvff41-audience-favourites/ |access-date=9 November 2018 |ref=mvffaward}}</ref>

|<ref>{{cite web |title=Awards presented at The 46th Norwegian International Film Festival |date=23 August 2018 |url=https://filmfestivalen.no/en/awards-presented-at-the-46th-norwegian-international-film-festival/ |access-date=26 September 2018 |ref=norwayaward}}</ref>

|-

!scope="row" | [[San Diego Film Critics Society]]

| [[San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2018|10 December 2018]]

| [[San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]

| ''Capernaum''

| {{draw|Runner-up}}

| <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdfcs.org/2018-award-winners/ |title=2018 San Diego Film Critics Society Award Winners |publisher=[[San Diego Film Critics Society]] |date=10 December 2018 |access-date=10 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210211256/http://www.sdfcs.org/2018-award-winners/ |archive-date=10 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| rowspan="3" | Nadine Labaki

| <ref>{{cite web |title=City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award |url=https://www.sansebastianfestival.com/2018/awards_and_jury_members/1/7171/in |website=SSIFF |access-date=4 October 2018 |ref=tiffannounce}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[São Paulo International Film Festival]]

| 18–31 October 2018

| Audience Award

| {{won}}

|<ref>{{cite web |title=42ª Mostra de Cinema de SP: mulheres são as grandes vencedoras |url=https://www.metrojornal.com.br/entretenimento/2018/11/01/42a-mostra-de-cinema-de-sp-mulheres-sao-as-grandes-vencedoras.html |access-date=5 November 2018 |ref=mostraaward}}</ref>

|<ref>{{cite web |title=Audience Award of the 24th Sarajevo Film Festival |url=https://www.sff.ba/novost/10976/audience-award-of-the-24th-sarajevo-film-festival |publisher=Sarajevo Film Festival |access-date=25 September 2018 |ref=sarajevoaward}}</ref>

! scope="row"| [[St. Louis Film Critics Association]]

| 16 December 2018

| Best Foreign Language Film

| ''Capernaum''

| {{nom}}

| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stlfilmcritics.org/awards |title=Annual StLFCA Awards |publisher=[[St. Louis Film Critics Association]] |date=9 December 2018 |access-date=11 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210171015/https://www.stlfilmcritics.org/awards |archive-date=10 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[St. Louis International Film Festival]]

| 1–11 November 2018

| Award for Best International Film

| Nadine Labaki

| {{won}}

|<ref>{{cite web |title=Green Book Wins Best Film, Capernaum, The Push Win Awards at 2018 St. Louis International Film Festival |date=12 November 2018 |url=https://www.vimooz.com/2018/11/12/green-book-wins-best-film-capernaum-the-push-win-awards-at-2018-st-louis-international-film-festival-32615/ |access-date=12 November 2018 |ref=stlfest}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row" rowspan="2" | [[Stockholm International Film Festival]]

| rowspan="2" | [[2018 Stockholm International Film Festival|7–18 November 2018]]

| Best Screenplay

| Nadine Labaki, Jihad Hojeily, Michelle Keserwany, Georges Kabbaz and [[Khaled Mouzanar]]

| {{won}}

| <ref>{{cite web |title=Stockholm Festival Winners Jasmin Mozaffari, Crystal Moselle Talk About Next Projects |date=17 November 2018 |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/global/stockholm-festival-winners-firecrackers-jasmin-mozaffari-crystal-moselle-skate-kitchen-sundance-1203031576/ |access-date=19 November 2018 |ref=stockholmfest}}</ref>

|-

| [[Stockholm International Film Festival#Audience Award|Audience Award]]

| Nadine Labaki

| {{won}}

| <ref>{{cite web |title=Här är vinnaren av årets publikpris |date=20 November 2018 |url=https://www.stockholmfilmfestival.se/sv/har-ar-vinnaren-av-arets-publikpris |access-date=21 November 2018 |ref=stockholmfestaudience}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row"| [[Vilnius International Film Festival]]

| 6 April 2019

| The Audience Award

| ''Capernaum''

| {{won}}

| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://kinopavasaris.lt/en/news-en/winners-of-the-24th-vilnius-iff-announced-including-many-lithuanian-films |title=Winners of the 24th Vilinus IFF |access-date=16 April 2019 |date=6 April 2019 |publisher=[[Vilnius International Film Festival]]}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row" |[[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association]]

| [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 2018|3 December 2018]]

| [[Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]

| ''Capernaum''

| {{nom}}

| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metroweekly.com/2018/12/roma-a-star-is-born-lead-winners-at-dc-film-critics-awards/ |first=Rhuaridh |last=Marr |title='Roma,' 'A Star Is Born' lead winners at DC Film Critics awards |work=[[Metro Weekly]] |date=3 December 2018 |access-date=4 December 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181204142632/https://www.metroweekly.com/2018/12/roma-a-star-is-born-lead-winners-at-dc-film-critics-awards/ |archive-date=4 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

|-

! scope="row" |[[World Soundtrack Awards]]

| October 2019

| Public Choice Award

| [[Khaled Mouzanar]]

| {{nom}}

| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldsoundtrackawards.com/en/awards/public-choice-award/1 |title=Public Choice Award |work=World Soundtrack Awards |access-date=11 May 2021 |archive-date=17 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517094716/https://www.worldsoundtrackawards.com/en/awards/public-choice-award/1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notes==

{{note|a}} {{lang-ar|كفرناحوم}} ''Kafarnāḥūm'', also known as '''''Cafarnaúm''''' or '''''Capharnaüm'''''. [[Capernaum]] was a village in the [[Galilee]] region in the territory of [[State of Palestine]]; it was condemned by [[Jesus]] as one of the three settlements that refused to repent for its sins even after he performed miracles of healing there; in French, a ''capharnaüm'' is a place with a disorderly accumulation of objects; it is translated onscreen in this film as "Chaos."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capharnaum|title=Definition of CAPHARNAUM|website=www.merriam-webster.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/12/16/676553757/in-capernaum-the-chaos-of-lebanon-from-a-homeless-child-s-perspective|title=In 'Capernaum,' The Chaos Of Lebanon From A Homeless Child's Perspective|website=NPR.org}}</ref>

{{Reflist}}

* {{Official site}}

* {{IMDb title}}

* {{Allmovie title|}}

[[Category:2018 drama films]]

[[Category:2010s Arabic-language films]]

[[Category:Courtroom films]]

[[Category:Films about poverty]]

[[Category:Films about refugees]]

[[Category:Films set in Lebanon]]

[[Category:Films about child abuse]]

[[Category:Sony Pictures Classics films]]

[[Category:Films about landlords]]