Character Relationships in Capernaum

Zain (played by Zain Al Rafeea) is a protagonist in Capernaum. The 12-year-old protagonist from Beirut's slums who serves a five-year prison sentence for stabbing his landlord after his sister dies. He runs away, cares for an undocumented Ethiopian infant named Yonas, and ultimately sues his parents for bringing him into a life of neglect and poverty. His legal battle exposes systemic abuse and illegal child trafficking, resulting in justice for his sister and the reunification of separated families. Rahil (played by Yordanos Shifera) is a protagonist in Capernaum. An undocumented Ethiopian migrant worker employed as a cleaner at Luna Park. She shows compassion to Zain by allowing him to stay in her tin shack while she works, in exchange for him babysitting her infant son, Yonas. Despite facing the threat of deportation and offers to relinquish custody for legal adoption, she fiercely protects her child until her eventual arrest and later reunification. Yonas (played by Boluwatife Treasure Bankole) appears in Capernaum. The undocumented Ethiopian infant son of Rahil. After his mother's arrest, he is temporarily cared for by Zain, who claims they are brothers. He is briefly handed over to the document forger Aspro before being reunited with Rahil following Zain's successful lawsuit against illegal adoption practices. Souad (played by Kawsar Al Haddad) appears in Capernaum. Zain's neglectful mother who forces her many children into labor and drug-related schemes instead of schooling. She callously trades her daughter Sahar to the landlord for two chickens and shows no remorse when Zain learns of Sahar's death. While imprisoned, she reveals she is pregnant again, prompting Zain to disown her. Selim (played by Fadi Kamel Yousef) appears in Capernaum. Zain's father who, along with Souad, neglects their children and forces them into survival schemes. He mockingly denies Zain having any identification documents and kicks him out after his disownment, later revealing to Zain that his sister Sahar has died. Sahar (played by Cedra Izzam) appears in Capernaum. Zain's eleven-year-old sister who is prematurely married off to the landlord Assaad in exchange for two chickens after developing her first menstruation. She tragically dies from pregnancy-related complications, an event that directly triggers Zain's violent retaliation against Assaad and his subsequent legal action against their parents. Aspro (played by Alaa Chouchnieh) appears in Capernaum. A corrupt document forger operating out of Souk Al Ahad who traffics undocumented children. He offers Yonas free legal adoption in exchange for custody, and later bargains with Zain for the child. Zain publicly exposes his illegal child trafficking and abuse, leading to a police raid and the reunification of families.

Character Relationship Map: Capernaum

Capernaum (2018) Poster

Capernaum (2018) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.

Characters

Key Relationships

Story Analysis

A systemic critique of poverty and neglect, following a marginalized boy's journey from familial abandonment to legal advocacy and identity acquisition.

Plot Progression

  1. The Courtroom Accusation
  2. Slums and Sacrifice
  3. The Park and the Shack
  4. Abandonment and Retaliation
  5. Justice and Identity

Directed by Nadine Labaki

Capernaum (2018) · 8.2/10 · drama