Capernaum, which roughly means chaos, is much more than a reductionist's vision of the vulnerability of children in a world of extreme poverty.

We have seen films about impoverished children right from Salaam Bombay to Slumdog Millionaire?to Liono?and a pack of Iranian films to boot. But this one, on the emotional quotient is very intense and almost unbearable to witness as it surpasses any other film seen earlier.

Narrated in a non-linear format and designed as a documentary, the director uses the courtroom trial as the framing device where a singularly focused, self-possessed Zain (Zain Al Rafeea), faces off for a crime he did and later sues his parents (Kawsar Al Haddad and Fadi Kamel Yousef) for neglect, abuse and for the crime of bringing him into this terrible world.

"I'm living in hell," that's how he describes his life to the judge.

Zain, a child close to adolescence,...