A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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Positive Role Models
a little
A handful of good people in this very dark, largely heartless world. Two main characters -- a 12-ish-year-old boy and a woman who shows compassion to him -- demonstrate real empathy, determination. They never lose their humanity, even when all conspires against them. Other authority figures (parents, neighbors, officials) are much less sympathetic.
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Violence & Scariness
some
Discussion of a boy stabbing an adult man; at one point, the boy is shown taking/holding a large knife. Many scenes of physical, verbal, environmental, circ*mstantial child abuse; kids are repeatedly put in extremely dangerous situations for profit or due to negligence, are underfed or told how worthless they are. Constant threat of peril to kids, including rape, child marriage, human trafficking, but the acts aren't shown on-screen. Violent acts and fatal injuries to kids occur offscreen.
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Sex, Romance & Nudity
a little
Small children are subjected to the sounds of adult sex taking place next to them. An 11-year-old girl has her first period, is sold to a husband, impregnated (offscreen). A boy bares the breasts of a female statue on a carnival ride. Nonsexual images of breasts shown in context of nursing/expressing milk.
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Language
a lot
Frequent profanity, much of it spoken by a child or directed at one, including "f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," "c--ksucker," "d--khead," "crap," "goddamn."
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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
some
A family involves small children in a prescription-drug acquisition and smuggling scheme; a boy later repeats the actions himself, selling drugs. Much cigarette smoking, often around babies.
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Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Capernaum is a sobering, gritty, powerful drama about a young boy struggling to survive and protect a baby on the streets of a poverty-stricken area of Lebanon. While it's not bloody, it's definitely sad and upsetting; the story involves severe child abuse (emotional, physical, verbal -- you name it) and the constant threat of peril to young children, including human trafficking and rape. There's also talk of a boy stabbing an adult man (at one point, the knife he uses is shown), and you can expect frequent strong language ("f--k," "s--t," "a--hole," "c--ksucker," etc.) and adults who involve children in their drug trade. The film was directed and co-written by Nadine Labaki and is Lebanon's submission for the 2019 Academy Awards. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
What's the Story?
In CAPERNAUM, Zain (Zain Al Rafeea), a boy around 12, must fend for himself -- and a baby named Yonas -- on the streets of an extremely rough part of Lebanon. He and other, smaller children face severe abuse and threats, including human trafficking, as they try to survive. Zain's path will ultimately lead to a consequential act of violence.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Capernaum depicts the way kids are treated in Zain's neighborhood/world. Are they treated like people, as human beings with feelings and potential, or as commodities? Why?
How would you compare the violence and peril in Capernaum to what you would see in an action/thriller movie? Which has more impact? Why?
Do you consider any of the characters to be role models? Why or why not? What choices do you think you'd make in their position? How does watching their story promote empathy?
Did you find the ending satisfying, or were you left with questions that impacted how much you enjoyed watching the film?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 14, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: March 26, 2019
- Cast: Zain Al Rafeea, Yordanos Shiferaw
- Director: Nadine Labaki
- Inclusion Information: Female directors, Middle Eastern/North African directors
- Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Empathy
- Run time: 121 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language and some drug material
- Last updated: July 16, 2022
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