Io Capitano (15)
Director: Matteo Garrone
Runtime: 2hr2min
Cast: Moustapha Fall Seydou Sarr, Issaka Sawadogo, Bamar Kane, Afif Ben Badra, Hichem Yacoubi, Oumar Diaw, Princess Erika, Mariam Kaba, Observateur Ebène
Synopsis: IO CAPITANO tells the story of the adventurous journey of Seydou and Moussa, two young men who leave Dakar to make their way to Europe. A contemporary Odyssey through the dangers and beauty of the desert, the shock of the detention centres in Libya and the perils of the sea as they cling to their hopes for a better life.
URL: https://youtu.be/_tMsoa24i2U?si=jlPWc-ulZp9Ft5q-
Io Capitano is a gripping, masterpiece of a film about a subject which we are painfully reminded of every day from Italian auteur, Matteo Garrone.
In his Oscar-nominated acclaimed film which has won the 2024 David Di Donatello Awards for best international feature and won top directing and acting prizes at the Venice Film Festival, writer-director Garrone [ Gomorrah (2008), Reality (2012),Tale of Tales (2015),Dogman (2018),Pinocchio (2019)] presents a “reverse shot” of the immigration experience inspired by actual stories of migrants’ African routes to Europe. The story is told through the mind’s eye and experiences of two Senegalese teenagers, Seydou (Seydou Sarr) and Moussa (Moustapha Fall). Leaving their hometown of Dakar, they embark on a journey to reach Italy for a brighter future and escape poverty. Yet between their dreams and reality lies a treacherous journey through a labyrinth of checkpoints. It’s not long before their transit becomes fraught with difficulty as they face extortion, extreme weather, harsh conditions, and even the threat of torture.
Hope and fantasy are entwined in the riveting odyssey of the two young cousins in Senegal who leave their close families to make their way through North Africa to Italy. The film doesn’t pretend they’re fleeing persecution – they are not. They following their dream to become musicians and looking for adventure. But what they endure is appalling. They are extorted, robbed, tortured, enslaved. Libyan Arabs don’t come out well from this but everyone is getting a cut from these desperate people.
The acting from the two protagonists is terrific, photography is superb and, overall, the film has very high production values. Even though the film’s title is in Italian, very little of that language is spoken. It’s a mixture of Senegalese, Arabic, French and English.
This nuanced film involves sympathy for people who some may deem to be an economic drain on the West. They’re real people and they have legitimate dreams. The principal character – 16 year old Seydou – has personal qualities that is implied would enrich the West. He’s honest, he’s loyal, he loves his family, he is a good worker, he inspires the protective instincts of an older man, and he takes on responsibilities far beyond his years.
Io Capitano is, in my opinion, a mandatory watch for all those who have – positive or negative views – about the small boat migrants by unflinchingly addressing the issues. Powerful story telling infused with humanity that hits deep and stays with you long after the credits role. Superb cinematography from Paolo Carnera, great ensemble acting and music from Andrea Farri.
Images courtesy of ALTITUDE FILMS
