OVERLAY REPORT

The lead actor of **Capernaum** (2018) is **Zain Al Rafeea**. A Syrian refugee who was discovered on the streets of Beirut by director Nadine Labaki, he has a very limited but high-profile filmography. If you feel like you have seen him elsewhere, it is most likely in one of the following two major projects: ### 1. Eternals (2021) – Marvel Cinematic Universe Zain made his Hollywood debut in this MCU blockbuster. * **His Role:** He is credited as **"Mesopotamian Young Man."** * **Specific Detail:** You see him at the very beginning of the film. He is the young boy in the ancient Mesopotamian village who is the first human to encounter the Eternals when they arrive on Earth 7,000 years ago. He is specifically seen being saved from a "Deviant" sea monster by Ikaris (Richard Madden) and later interacts with Sprite (Lia McHugh). * **Why you’d recognize him:** Despite being a small role, his face is featured prominently in the opening sequence and he was a major part of the film's international press coverage because of his inspiring real-life background. ### 2. The Sand Castle (2024/2025) – Netflix Original This is a mystery-thriller (originally titled *Behind the Wave* or *Min Wara' el Moja*) that reunited him with his *Capernaum* director, Nadine Labaki. * **His Role:** He plays **Adam**, the teenage son of the lead family. * **Specific Detail:** The film follows a family of four who become stranded on a mysterious, picturesque island after a calamity. Zain's character, Adam, is the protective and increasingly anxious older brother who begins to suspect that the island’s beauty hides a dark secret. * **Connection:** He stars alongside his real-life sister, **Riman Al Rafeea** (who also appeared briefly in *Capernaum*), and **Nadine Labaki**, who plays his mother in this film. ### Summary of Filmography | Year | Film | Role | Notes | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 2018 | *Capernaum* | Zain El Hajj | Lead Role; nominated for an Oscar. | | 2021 | *Eternals* | Mesopotamian Young Man | First human to meet the Eternals. | | 2025 | *The Sand Castle* | Adam | Netflix thriller; lead role as the teenage son. | **Fun Fact:** After the success of *Capernaum*, Zain and his family were resettled in **Norway** with the help of the UNHCR. He now holds Norwegian citizenship and balances his acting career with his life there. If you watch Norwegian media, you may have also seen him in local news profiles regarding his journey from a refugee to a movie star.