Capharnaüm (کفرناحوم) is a Lebanese drama film (فيلم) written and directed by Nadine Labaki.

The movie follows the life (حياة) of young Zain, a Syrian refugee (لاجئ سوري) living on the streets of Beirut (بيروت) for 9 years, without identification papers or even an identity card (بطاقة هوية). The movie is very relatable and dives into the deep problematic life of Syrian refugees and the struggles (الصراعات) they face in displacement (النزوح الجبري) either in Lebanon (لبنان) or elsewhere. Not only does this movie bring the issues faced by Syrian refugees to the light, but it also tackles very sensitive problems (مشاكل) that they face in a very touching and emotional way, and it pushes the audience (المشاهدين) to sympathize with these refugees and further understand and feel for them.

The movie was nominated for the Palme D’or Award (جائزة السعفة الذهبية) at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival (مهرجان كان السينمائي), one of the most prestigious awards, and ended up winning the Jury Prize. It also received a 15 minute standing ovation on its premier.
It was submitted for Best Foreign Picture (أفضل فيلم أجنبي) at this year’s Oscars (حفل الأوسكار), hopefully it would make the cut.
Nadine Labaki is a very famous director (مخرج) who has starred in every movie she made. Some of her best works include Caramel (سكر بنات) and Where Do We Go Now? (وهلأ لوين ؟).

Very famous for portraying real life issues on screen, Labaki is a very popular (مشهورة) and esteemed director in the Middle East (الشرق الأوسط), and all of her movies carry a human message (رسالة إنسانية) and are considered by most to be “masterpieces”( تحفة فنية). Her most recent masterpiece is Capharnaüm(کفرناحوم), which was launched into theaters worldwide about 2 months ago, and it has taken the world by storm ever since.
A movie worth watching, with a very deeply relatable plot and extremely talented cast (طاقم التمثيل). What makes it so special (مميز) is the fact that the actor (ممثل) who plays the Syrian child Zain, is in fact a Syrian refugee that was living in the streets of Beirut just like his character (شخصية) before Labaki found him and asked him to star in her movie.
Since then Zain Al Rafeea AKA Zain and his family have resettled (إعادة توطين) in Norway (النروج) with the help of UNHCR (مفوضية الأمم المتحدة السامية لحقوق اللاجئين) and is currently accompanying Labaki on her Capharnaüm US tour (جولة).

Text Vocabulary:
Capharnaüm کفرناحوم
Film فيلم
Life حياة
Syrian refugee لاجئ سوري
Beirut بيروت
Identity Card بطاقة هوية
Struggles الصراعات
Displacement النزوح الجبري
Problems مشاكل
Audience المشاهدين
Palme D’or Award جائزة السعفة الذهبية
Cannes Film Festival مهرجان كان السينمائي
Best Foreign Picture أفضل فيلم أجنبي
The Oscars حفل الأوسكار
Where Do We Go Now? وهلأ لوين؟
Popular مشهورة
Middle East الشرق الأوسط
Human message رسالة إنسانية
Masterpieces تحفة فنية
Cast طاقم التمثيل
Special مميز
Actor ممثل
Character شخصية
Resettled إعادة توطين
Norway النروج
UNHCR مفوضية الأمم المتحدة السامية لحقوق اللاجئين
Tour جولة