The film tells the tale of 12-year-old Zain, who is suing his parents for having brought him into the world without the means to care for him. Yet, as well as having been mistreated, the young boy faces another obstacle that impacts on his legitimacy: he was born without a birth certificate. Through Zain's battle for justice, Capharnaum acts as a platform for all those living without the basic human rights of education, health and love.