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On the podcast this week, Steven and Sean are once again joined by the fantastic Eimanne El Zein. This time, we\u2019re trading in the absurd hilarity of The Room and getting into a deep conversation about a sobering 2018 film from Nadine Labaki, Capernaum.

Get ready for a tough film. You know us. We\u2019re not going to sugarcoat things for you. This film is challenging, rough, and sad. Most of the film will feel like a grand and real tragedy, and in many ways it is. This is not a fantasy film; there are too many people living a grueling and desperate life like that of Zain. It\u2019s happening right now as you listen to this episode.

I\u2019ll let you know now, though\u2014there\u2019s some redemption at the end. There\u2019s a glimmer of much-needed hope. Like finding a pool of water after being lost in the blazing desert for days, the ending is restorative.

To get there, you have to cross through a river of agonizing emotions. On the plus side, we\u2019ve also got a wonderful guest to help us navigate those waters. At least there\u2019s that.

We talk about it in the podcast, but it should be put into writing here. The performance that first-time actor, Zain Al Rafeea, give is astonishing. It\u2019s unlike anything you\u2019ve ever seen before. There\u2019s an authenticity and rawness with which he imbues his character. It would be an astonishing feat for any actor, but when the person in question is a child? That brings on a new level of admiration. His performance is well worth the heaviness of this film.

There\u2019s a lot to be troubled by with this story\u2019s subject matter. Extreme poverty, lack of compassion, and neglect for human life are a lot to take. We all think it\u2019s a necessary film, though. It\u2019s all too easy to forget that our lives are probably better than we think they are. We lack the perspective we need to appreciate our lives to the fullest. This film can give that very necessary shot of perspective. It\u2019s powerful and worth anyone\u2019s time.

(Recorded on June 07, 2021)

Links to Stuff We Mentioned:

Capernaum - IMDb

Capernaum trailer - YouTube

Nadine Labaki - IMDb

Lebanon - Wikipedia

Zain Al Rafeea - IMDb

Amy Saves Starship UK | Doctor Who - YouTube

Yordanos Shiferaw - IMDb

Alaa Chouchnieh - IMDb

Kawsar Al Haddad - IMDb

Fadi Yousef - IMDb

Cedra Izzam - IMDb

Boluwatife Treasure Bankole - IMDb

Shoplifters - IMDb

Parasite - IMDb

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