Film Review - Io Capitano
Images courtesy of Rialto Distribution.
Great movies and stories come from all corners of the world. While the 2024 Academy Awards may have favoured international hits like The Zone of Interest, another deeply important and timely film was also among the Best International Feature Film nominees - Italy’s Io Capitano. Winner of the Silver Lion and the Marcello Mastroianni Award at the 80th Venice International Film Festival, it is a sprawling odyssey and one of the best foreign language films of the last year.
Seydou (Seydou Sarr) and Moussa (Moustapha Fall) are two Senegalese teenagers, with hopes and dreams of escaping poverty for a brighter future in Europe. Wanting to pursue musical careers, the pair see the opportunity as one of endless possibilities and adventure. They leave their city in West Africa to travel to Italy, and soon discover that a treacherous journey lies ahead of them. From the Sahara Desert, to detention centers and the waters of the Mediterranean, Seydou and Moussa are faced with perilous obstacles and the realisation that thousands have died on this very path they follow.
The film is an eye-opening, urgent and confronting look at the immigration and refugee crisis, while also being a tale of courage, resilience and the human spirit. Director Matteo Garrone tells this story directly through the eyes of these hopeful and innocent boys, and newcomer Sarr is a revelation as Seydou, who the audience spends the majority of the film’s runtime with. His performance is utterly authentic and heartbreaking, making it all the more impressive that he had no acting experience prior to filming. Io Capitano also doesn’t hold back on presenting the horrors and devastation that so many immigrants like Seydou and Moussa face. Scenes of prisoners being tortured, criminals taking advantage of other people’s desperation, and dead bodies buried under sand of the Sahara are viscerally disturbing and affecting. Garrone breaks up these moments with touches of magical realism that offer light and hope among the film’s dark and grim reality. Aided by rich cinematography and diverse locations, this is a viewing experience that will leave a lasting impact, particularly due to its powerful and moving finale.
Io Capitano offers audiences an empathetic and raw portrayal of the harrowing challenges asylum seekers face, simply in order to have a better life that so many of us take for granted. It is also a testament to the strength of these individuals, and will undoubtedly open up conversations that desperately need to be had. More importantly, it will hopefully inspire action and change.
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Io Capitano is screening in cinemas from Thursday 28th March. For tickets and more info, click here.