The film "What a Home", which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, is a feature film directed by Nadine Labaki and starring Zane Al Rafia, Idris Elba, Hayat Faissen and others.
The film tells the story of Zane, a twelve-year-old boy in Yemen during the war, suing his parents, showing his struggle to survive.
The story is set in war-torn Yemen, a country plagued by war and poverty, where many people are unable to meet their basic survival needs. The protagonist, Zane, is a twelve-year-old boy whose family life is very difficult and his parents are unable to support him and several other siblings, so he is forced to sell drugs and cheat on the streets.
The plot begins with Zane being arrested and imprisoned for a fraud. While in prison, he meets a kind prison guard who discovers his talent and helps him earn a primary school diploma through self-study. After Zane was released from prison, he decided to sue his parents for not being able to raise him and for involving him in illegal activities such as drug trafficking and fraud.
Zane's complaint attracted widespread attention in society, and his parents felt very ashamed and guilty, but also felt incomprehensible because they thought they had done their best to raise their children. However, Zane's current situation reveals that they cannot provide a safe and stable living environment.
In court, Zane performed brilliantly, not only making statements in fluent Arabic, but also using his own personal experience to prove his point. Ultimately, the court convicted Zane's parents for failing to provide proper living conditions and protection.
The themes in the film are war, poverty and education. Through Zane's experience, the film reveals the immense suffering and hardship that war and poverty bring to children. At the same time, the film also emphasizes the importance of education, because only through learning can Zane be able to escape poverty and crime.
In addition to the theme, the characters in the film are also very distinct. Zane is a smart, brave and determined boy who is unwilling to accept his fate and instead struggles to find a way out. His parents are also very real images, they try their best to raise their children, but they cannot overcome poverty and war. Other characters such as prison guards are also very full and vivid, allowing the audience to better understand the society and characters of this period.
The film profoundly reflects social contradictions and current situations such as war, poverty, unemployment, and medical problems. A country beset by war and poverty. The war has led to the displacement of countless people, the loss of homes and loved ones, and the desperate hardship of life. A typical example is the life of the Zane family, who live in dilapidated houses and lack basic amenities and security, even to meet the needs of their children. This living environment not only has a great impact on the growth of children, but also brings great pressure and difficulties to their families.
In order to survive, Zane's parents had to work illegal and dangerous jobs, such as drug trafficking and theft. This kind of work is not only risky, but also poorly paid, unable to support the normal expenses of the family. As a result, the Zane family was in extremely difficult financial straits, unable to meet their children's educational and other basic needs. At the same time, this also reflects the seriousness of the unemployment problem in society, which needs more attention and solutions.
In the movie, Zane's sister Saha died due to difficult childbirth, and the family was hit hard. This problem reflects the imperfection of medical resources and medical conditions in poor areas, resulting in the inability to guarantee people's lives. This is a widespread social problem that needs more attention and improvement.
Zane was unable to receive a normal education because of his family's poverty, and his education level was so low that he could not even read and write. This problem not only affected his personal development, but also limited his competitiveness in society. Education is the cornerstone of social development and is essential for the development of a country. In reality, there are also many poverty-stricken areas with serious shortage of educational resources and need more attention and investment.
Director Nadine Labaki uses real and delicate lens language to present the inner world of Zane and other characters. The shots in the movie are very natural and smooth, allowing the audience to feel the authenticity and vividness of the plot. At the same time, the sound effects and soundtrack in the film are also excellent, allowing the audience to better feel the emotion and atmosphere of the plot.
Through a true and moving story, "What a Home" presents the immense suffering and hardship that war and poverty have brought to children. The theme, character image, and shooting techniques in the film are all excellent, allowing the audience to think about social issues while feeling the plot. Film is not only an excellent work of art, but also a work of profound social significance.
