Image courtesy of TMDB
How to Watch Capernaum in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide

How to Watch Capernaum in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide

Parm S
Parm S
May 06, 2023

Welcome to our guide on how to stream the 2018 Lebanese drama film, Capernaum, in South Africa. We'll be reviewing the different ways you can watch this powerful and heart-wrenching film, which tells the story of a 12-year-old boy living in the slums of Beirut and his struggle to survive in a world that has failed him.

Directed by Nadine Labaki and starring Syrian refugee child actor Zain Al Rafeea, the film has received critical acclaim and won numerous awards, including the Jury Prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival. Capernaum is a must-watch for anyone interested in powerful storytelling and social justice issues.

In this article, we'll be discussing ways to watch Capernaum in South Africa, and we'll also be highlighting a tool that can help you access the film from other regions if it's not currently available in your area.

Image courtesy of TMDB

Streaming Services for Capernaum in South Africa

Unfortunately, there are currently no streaming options for Capernaum within South Africa. This means that if you're trying to watch this film, you won't be able to find it on any of the popular streaming services available in the country.

If you already have a subscription to a streaming service that offers Capernaum, you can simply open up your app and start watching right now. However, if none of the services you subscribe to offer this film, you may be out of luck - unless you use a VPN to access it from another region.

  • No streaming options within the country.

Unlocking Capernaum with ExpressVPN

While Capernaum might not be available on any South African streaming services, you can still watch it using a VPN like ExpressVPN. By connecting to a server in a country where Capernaum is available, you can use your existing streaming subscription and login to unlock the film and watch it right away.

Here are some of the streaming services where Capernaum is currently available:

  • Amazon Prime (India)
  • Amazon Prime: Arthouse CNMA channel (Germany)
  • Amazon Prime: Starz channel (USA)
  • Amazon Prime: Sundance Now channel (Canada)
  • Netflix (Japan, South Korea, Turkey)
  • Netflix: with ads (Japan, South Korea)

For example, let's say you have an Amazon Prime subscription, but you're not currently able to watch Capernaum on the South African version of the platform. With ExpressVPN, you can connect to a server in India, where the film is available on Amazon Prime. Once you're connected, simply log in to your Amazon Prime account and start watching Capernaum as if you were in India.

ExpressVPN also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and see for yourself how easy it is to unlock content from around the world. Don't let location restrictions keep you from watching Capernaum and other amazing films - give ExpressVPN a try today.

How to watch Capernaum on Netflix in South Africa today

Sign up for ExpressVPN and watch Capernaum on Netflix in South Africa in 3 quick steps

Laptop Icon

Step 1

Download the ExpressVPN app from the app store and create an account.

World Icon

Step 2

Connect to an ExpressVPN server in Japan

TV Icon

Step 3

Open your Netflix app on your device and enjoy your show!

Renting or Buying Capernaum in South Africa

If you're unable to access Capernaum through any of the streaming services we've mentioned, you can always rent or buy the film directly. However, it's important to note that there are currently no options to do so within South Africa.

If you're willing to rent or buy Capernaum from another country, you can use a VPN like ExpressVPN to access the film and make your purchase. Here are some of the options available:

  • No streaming options for rent within the country.
  • No streaming options for purchase within the country.

While it's certainly possible to rent or buy Capernaum from another country using a VPN, keep in mind that this can be more expensive and less convenient than streaming it through a subscription service. However, if you're a die-hard fan of the film and willing to go the extra mile to watch it, renting or buying may be your best option.

Plot Summary of Capernaum

Capernaum tells the story of Zain, a 12-year-old boy living in the slums of Beirut. Zain is serving a five-year prison sentence for stabbing someone, and at the beginning of the film, he decides to take civil action against his parents for giving birth to him and failing to provide for him.

The film then flashes back several months to show Zain's life leading up to his arrest. He takes care of his numerous siblings and works as a delivery boy for the family's landlord. After his sister is married off to the landlord in exchange for chickens, Zain runs away and meets an Ethiopian migrant worker named Rahil. Zain begins living with Rahil and taking care of her infant son, Yonas, while Rahil works. When Rahil is arrested and doesn't return, Zain is left to care for Yonas on his own.

As Zain tries to find a way to provide for himself and Yonas, he encounters a group of other migrant workers and becomes embroiled in a dangerous scheme to escape to Sweden. Along the way, Zain learns the harsh realities of life for refugees and other marginalized people in Lebanon, and he begins to understand the true meaning of family and responsibility.

Ready to watch Capernaum now?

It's really simple! Here's what you do:

  1. Head to ExpressVPN and sign-up
  2. Download the app to your phone, TV, tablet, or computer (or all of them)
  3. Select the country you want in the app
  4. Open Netflix as usual and watch!

It really is that quick!

The Making of Capernaum

Capernaum was directed by Nadine Labaki, a Lebanese filmmaker who is known for exploring social issues in her work. To bring authenticity to the film, Labaki cast Syrian refugee child actor Zain Al Rafeea in the lead role of Zain, and many of the other actors were also novices or non-professionals.

The film was shot on a budget of just $4 million, and Labaki and her team spent six months filming in the slums of Beirut. They captured over 500 hours of footage, which was edited down to a final runtime of just over two hours. Labaki worked closely with her editing team for a year and a half to craft the final version of the film, which tells a powerful story of poverty, neglect, and resilience.

Capernaum premiered at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival, where it was met with critical acclaim and a 15-minute standing ovation. The film went on to win the Jury Prize at Cannes, and it was later nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Capernaum has been praised for its raw, documentary-like realism, as well as its sensitive handling of difficult subject matter.

The success of Capernaum has made it the highest-grossing Arabic and Middle-Eastern film of all time, with a global box office gross of over $68 million. The film has resonated with audiences around the world, highlighting the power of cinema to bring attention to important social issues and spark conversations about change.

Cast of Capernaum

Zain Al Rafeea as Zain El Hajj: Zain is the protagonist of the film, a 12-year-old boy living in the slums of Beirut who decides to take legal action against his parents for neglect. Zain Al Rafeea is a Syrian refugee who was living in Beirut at the time of filming. Capernaum is his first major acting role.

Yordanos Shiferaw as Rahil: Rahil is an Ethiopian migrant worker who takes in Zain and entrusts him with the care of her infant son, Yonas. Shiferaw is an Ethiopian actress who has appeared in a number of other films and TV shows, including Sew Le Sew and Netsa Kelebet.

Boluwatife Treasure Bankole as Yonas: Yonas is Rahil's infant son, who is cared for by Zain after Rahil is arrested. Bankole is a Nigerian actress and model who made her film debut in Capernaum.

Kawsar Al Haddad as Souad: Souad is Zain's mother, who gives birth to numerous children despite the family's dire poverty. Al Haddad is a Lebanese actress who has appeared in several other films and TV shows, including Ghadi and Beirut I Love You.

Fadi Youssef as Selim: Selim is Zain's father, who is unable to provide for his family and is frequently absent. Youssef is a Lebanese actor who has appeared in several other films and TV shows, including Al Hayba and Beirut I Love You.

Nadine Labaki (Director and Screenwriter): Labaki is a Lebanese actress and filmmaker who directed and co-wrote Capernaum. She is also known for her work on Where Do We Go Now? and Caramel.

Khaled Mouzanar (Producer and Composer): Mouzanar is a Lebanese composer and producer who worked on Capernaum as well as Nadine Labaki's previous films. He also scored the music for Where Do We Go Now? and The Insult.

Image courtesy of TMDB

Capernaum: A Gritty and Heartbreaking Portrayal of Poverty

Capernaum is a film that will break your heart. It is a powerful portrayal of poverty and neglect, and the toll that it takes on the most vulnerable members of society. The film's raw, documentary-like realism is both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness. While it is a stunningly crafted piece of cinema that will stay with you long after the credits roll, it is also a difficult and emotionally draining experience.

Director Nadine Labaki does an incredible job of immersing the audience in the world of her characters, and the film's non-professional cast delivers performances that are authentic and deeply affecting. Syrian refugee Zain Al Rafeea gives a remarkable performance as Zain, the film's lead character, and the scenes between him and Ethiopian migrant worker Rahil (played by Yordanos Shiferaw) are among the film's most powerful.

While I highly recommend Capernaum to anyone who appreciates thoughtful, socially conscious filmmaking, I must also warn that it is not an easy watch. The film's unflinching portrayal of poverty, child neglect, and abuse may be too much for some viewers to handle. However, for those who are able to handle the emotional weight of the film, it is a must-see.

If you're interested in watching Capernaum or other great foreign films, I highly recommend signing up for ExpressVPN and accessing Netflix in Japan. With ExpressVPN, you can unlock a whole new world of international cinema and experience some of the best films from around the world.

Other news that might interest you

Always know what’s new on Netflix

Bookmark us as your source of the latest Netflix content.