“It’s alright, Ma, (I am only bleeding)“
~ Bob Dylan
As a child, I often used to wonder what will become of me.
Growing up, I have often wondered what will become of children of the world.
More importantly, what are we doing for them or what are we doing to them.
Capernaum, a Lebanese film, tells the story of a twelve year boy, Zain, who has been dealt such a bad hand that he ultimately decides to sue his parents for giving birth to him and wants them to stop having more children. He says he is sick of parents who cannot take care of their children. In doing so, he becomes the voice of so many young children rotting on the roads, in jails, in four walls that some of us call homes. Capernaum means chaos, something that is in ruins and given the landscape of the film, there couldn’t have been a better word to sum it up.
As one reviewer wrote, this is a film that needs to be seen by the whole human race. Why? Because not all of us deserve to be parents and because children are not playthings – ‘the more the merrier’ does not apply here. The film does not promote antinatalism; it is not didactic or preachy in nature. In fact, it does not have too many dialogues. It merely says that having the physical wherewithal – a sperm, an egg – is not enough and it certainly does not mean two human beings are ready or fit enough to embrace parenthood. The film holds a mirror to our society, in which there are more children than there are parents.
Zain’s eyes hold an entire universe and there were times when, during the course of the film, I had to pause, look away, so heavy was my heart. I have never seen a more expressive face. Somebody said to me the other day that a particular web series is difficult to watch because of the physical violence on display, but if you ask me, indifference and neglect especially when children are at the receiving end, kills me more.
And yet, despite his precociousness, his innocence shines through when he meets Spiderman’s cousin or when he says he was born black, his skin just brightened up with time. His humaneness crushed me throughout, when at a camp for refugees, he only asks for milk and diapers for the baby and puts in a request for chips and noodles as an afterthought. He helps and educates his sister, even though he is just a year older, when she has her first period. He is more alive than any human you will ever meet, and yet his circumstances are slowly sucking whatever little life or life force is left in him. Zain, in his own words, feels like a roasted chicken people are dying to eat.
In a better world, Zain could be an Indigo child – intuitive, creative and revolutionary, but that is not to be. Thanks to Nadine Labaki, the director, there is no glossing over. There is no sudden rising from the ashes, but Labaki’s Zain does not give up, not before making a statement about all that his life has been, for anybody who cares to listen.
“On the seashore of endless worlds, children meet. Tempest roams in the pathless sky, ships are wrecked in the trackless water, death is abroad and children play. On the seashore of endless worlds is the great meeting of children.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore
well,Amol is back ……the review Amol ,seems to have the same eyes as the protagonist….and the same poignancy.
Truly heartfelt review,….it seems she is voicing the feelings not only of the protagonist… but of all those who have lost their childhood
Truly heartfelt review,….it seems she is voicing the feelings not only of the protagonist… but of all those who have lost their childhood
Amol, very well reviewed. It seems you have gone into the micro details and thoughtfully penned each sentence 👍👍
Thank you so much. The subject of the film, the direction and performances were such that words still fall short.
You weave magic with words. You really mesmerize with your writing. I wonder how words come to your mind and then attract others just to cast the spell.
Whole movie is clear to me with your words.
There are numerous Zain.s !
Thank you Amol for such a truthful review and thanks to Nadine Labaki for giving a beckoning call to humanity as every human being is having a parent inside who wants to protect his/her loved ones!
Earlier I used to astonish why the wounded one is consumed by the world more, but now have got accustomed to this hard fact that reveals humanity devoid of its very being!
We admire the art piece that brings the savage inside out on the screen mirroring the very hollowness of our being!
I hope this film could do it’s task so that Zain could regain a little lifeforce to bounce back to life as a human not as roasted chicken!
Stay alive! Keep writing and keep inspiring, Dear Amol!
You are right. Most of us are hollow and T.S. Eliot was right about it. It is when we look beyond the walls of race, religion, region, caste and class, that we realize these are all our children. Our obsession with biological offsprings, our progeny, our blood has made us conceited. Above and beyond, I am grateful to you for reading this review and leaving such pertinent remarks on my blog.
Amol
You have soulfully penned down dilemma faced by children who are brought into life without much thought
It is really soul stirring
Parenthood is the biggest responsibility one can have
Do keep writing
My best wishes
Amol! This is such a thoughtful and careful review. It has so much depth. I haven’t seen the movie but I am going to as soon as I get my hands to it.
I didn’t want the writing to end, I just kept reading and reflecting myself as a parent..
Loved it, Amol! Yes you are so right – in our society there are more children than there are parents, at least in the sense of competent parents. Most people don’t ever ask themselves why they should produce children and what type of values they will impart to them. They merely fulfill a biological function without any thought for the future of the children or the planet. It’s not only what quality of life we will provide to these children but a bigger question may be how these children, if not given proper education and a good value system, will take care of this planet which is now becoming more critical than ever.
Amol your writing is so soulful that the ache didn’t need the visualization! Your words summed it all up! The Zain(s) are real and all over the world, a true facet of the beautiful but hollow life!