Taking on an almost Homer-like approach to narrate the odyssey of two young Senegalese boys who decide to leave behind the comforts and familiarities of their home and go through some of the present day's most hellish experiences in hopes of reaching the mythical land of Europe where dreams are fulfilled, Matteo Garrone's "Io Capitano" is a visual spectacle that's not for the faint of heart. Based on testimonies of African migrants in Europe, the movie visualizes the brutality of humanity's darkest corners; where practices of kidnapping, torture, rape, and slavery are as normalized as one could think up. The only glimmers of hope are the moments of empathy that shine through the very few sane enough to not trade in their humanity in even the roughest of places. It's brutally devastating and for a subject matter so sensitive, never preachy. The movie's greatest strength is its cast who play a key role in making the movie come across as authentic as could be. It is a gorgeously shot, perfectly directed movie that meets its lofty ambitions through its precision in vision and scope. It's one definitely worth recommending.

At times this is a really quite harrowing film to watch as we follow two cousins "Seydou" (Seydou Sarr) and "Moussa" (Moustapha Fall) on one hell of a journey. They are still going to school in Dakar, but have secretly dreamed of heading to Europe. The work hard in their spare time, and try to keep their mother's in the dark until the time comes to start their journey. Getting from their homeland is comparatively easy - they get a bus, but once they begin their travels in earnest, that's when they (and we) encounter the appalling people traffickers who try to get them across the Sahara to Libya where even worse awaits them. The venality of the human spirit is writ hugely here as people are beaten, tortured, imprisoned and sold and with the boys briefly separated, we now focus on the tribulations of the determined and strong-willed "Seydou" who must get his friend to an hospital - even if that means driving a boat full of fellow migrants himself across the Mediterranean to Sicily! The two boys are super here, there's a chemistry between them that shows well their stoicism, perseverance and loyalty to each other - in the face of some fairly eye-watering ghastliness. It's not without it's humour and the effectiveness of their facial expressions isn't wasted on the camera on these occasions. These two are engaging and I felt as invested in their success as I felt disgusted by man's gross inhumanity to those so apparently vulnerable that they barely had the clothes they (sort of) stood up in. If you saw "Flee" (2021) then you'll have an idea what you are in for, only this time we have some stunning real photography of this planet when it's at is most arid, hostile and unforgiving. I can't think this will ever get too general a cinema release, but if you do get a chance then it's well worth catching.

If you've watched enough movies or series, it's the same story over and over again, so you rather focus on how they express the topic and do not pay attention to the core, the topic itself. However, 'Io Capitano' presents a whole new level of the story that I never even thought about. I mean, of course, I read the news and watch documentaries, but those are not enough to live vicariously through refugees. 'Io Capitano' provides a closer and more personal look at their journey from Africa to Europe. Some parts are hard to watch, reminding me of modern slavery. I'm shocked that there is no civilization out there, that only the law of the jungle applies, that only physical violence decides the superiority of a human being, and that all aspects of humanity are taken away. Authenticity of the movie is unreal. I feel as if I have been following Seydou and Moussa's journey right behind the camera for about a month. When they leave Senegal, it starts cheerful, and I'm also excited for the new adventure. However, the sudden turn of events is horrifying. It's slowly coming but sudden at the same time. When Seydou manages to drive the boat safely to Italy, I am relieved as heck and scream with him in my seat. Especially, when the close-up of faces changes into a wide shot of the Sahara Desert, looking the same everywhere, hopelessness and lostness hit me so hard. 'Io Capitano' does the most important thing a film can do, heralding or experiencing prevalent and relevant social issues that are not dealt with frequently enough because of how uncomfortable it is. It has been a valuable lesson for me, bringing more awareness to refugees' hardship.

The odyssey of two young Senegalese on their way to Europe in search of a better future. A raw look at immigration and a sociopolitical reality with intense scenes where the journey feels like a true hell. 'Io Capitano' is one of those movies that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Most of us, a lot of times, are unaware of the hardships people who leave their countries go through in order to fulfill their dreams or at least have a chance to live a better life themselves or with their loved ones. The fact that the movie invests the first thirty or so minutes showing how our protagonists live is reason enough to understand the choice they make and to sympathize with them. The movie does an excellent job at it because in many scenes it feels like you experience the same predicaments the protagonists are going through, as well as to desire for them to succeed and achieve their goals. And that precisely makes the journey worth having.

Io Capitano" is not just a movie; it's an experience. It plunges you into the perilous journey of Seydou, a 16-year-old boy driven by the dream of reaching Europe and a better life. Led by a remarkable performance from first-time actor Seydou Sarr, the film paints a raw and unflinching portrait of hardship, resilience, and the enduring power of hope Director Matteo Garrone masterfully crafts a visually stunning narrative, weaving elements of magical realism into the harsh realities of Seydou's odyssey. The vast landscapes of the Sahara become both treacherous obstacles and canvases for dreamlike sequences, reflecting Seydou's inner turmoil and yearning for home.

Movies about the flood of new immigrants into Europe from Africa and the Middle East have been growing in number in recent years. Depictions of the many hardships these individuals face (sometimes graphic and disturbing in nature) have been making their way into the cinematic community, showing exactly what these desperate freedom seekers are up against. And this latest offering in this genre does just that in telling the story of two Senegalese teens as they make the perilous attempt to find their way to a new life in Italy. Writer-director Matteo Garrone tells the harrowing tale of cousins Seydou (Seydou Sarr) and Moussa (Moustapha Fall) as they wrestle with the challenges of the environment, unrepentant scammers, forced detention and torture by authorities and criminals, and the harsh conditions of crossing the Mediterranean. However, while the film features fine performances, cinematography and location settings, it all seems a little too familiar, a tale with a hole-filled plot and a series of cliffhangers that seem to have all-too-convenient solutions to them. It's also overlong, filled with a variety of sequences that could have been easily pared back without losing anything meaningful. Nevertheless, these shortcomings are countered, to a certain extent, by an intriguing mystical and surreal subtext, which is actually the picture's strongest (though most woefully underdeveloped) aspect. In light of the foregoing, then, I must admit that I'm somewhat mystified how this release managed to secure so many accolades, including Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for best international film, especially given how many other better offerings were available. "Io Capitano" is one of those movies that makes a good instructional picture for those who'd like to know more about the plight of this new wave of immigrants, but its hype seems a bit inflated in the face of previous releases on this subject and other foreign language offerings more deserving of the praise.

The movie tells the dramatic story of two African boys traveling towards Italy. After Fuocoammare (Fire at Sea) which tells the reality of an small island in southern Italy that receives a great number of "boat people", "Io Capitano" tells their story in Africa before getting there. The movie goes through their lives, decisions, minds, dreams and lots of difficulties in this long and rough journey. I have read in political magazines about the road to reach the boats to Italy, so I had an idea, but the movie is viceral and real in every detail plus more. You will certainly feel that you are traveling with them and that their story must be told! It's superb, a must see!! Nominated to Best International Feature film in Oscar's 2024, I hope they win!! The message is so important!!!

We see an increasing number of people attempting to cross into Europe for what they perceive as a better life. This is done mostly by young men and boys who are trafficked across the Med through criminals. The motivation for the boys wanting to go to Europe in this film is glossed over and they are lauded as flawless which feels unrealistic - Mary Sue esque. This film will only encourage more people to make this journey and cause more death and misery for all involved. I would have liked to have seen how the film makers portrayed the challenges of them trying to integrate into European society.

Saw this at the 2023 film festival Ghant (Belgium). In previous five or so years I saw lots of movies (mainly documentaries, a peak around 2017) about African immigrants wanting to move to Europe, deemed a continent with a promising future. I feared a repeat of the many predecessors. It worked out very differently, and much better than expected. The first part is a daunting experience. We see Seydou and Moussa lose lots of money for all sorts of "services", starting with obtaining a passport and booking a bus for the next leg in the journey. Each step costs much more money than expected. Further, no one can be really trusted, although they also get ample good advice on the route to their destiny. Positive experiences mix with even so many setbacks. The worst was that they were separated, after which unlucky event we follow only Seydou. Eventually, it all seems to end in miserable circumstances, in an unofficial prison where extortion (phone your parents to send money) is the main line of business and where torture is a common tool to achieve their goals. The next phase is much more hopeful, earned with honest work, after which Seydou arrives in Tripoli. There they got re-united, after a near impossible search and intense asking around. A less happy reunion, when seeing that Moussa was shot in the leg when escaping from prison and can hardly walk. Together again, they try to cope with the circumstances. The final part where they cross the Mediterranean is tense. It was also a bit peculiar, albeit it fully explains the film title. Even though the boat is full of adult men and women, they call the 16-year-old willy-nilly "captain" for each and every problem, including assisting a woman at the point of giving birth, or lifting four men who fell in the engine room back to deck level. Maybe unrealistic but it can work for viewers of similar age to identify themselves with the amateur captain. Apart from maybe the prison scenes, it makes this movie suitable for family viewing and keeping everyone's attention.

Watching film like that makes you feel so sad about what human beings is going through. Imagine that you're poor and got no idea about what life is so you decided to migrate to find out life and help your family, then you find yourself trapped like a mice. Digging up for the truth makes you wonder, how many people still suffering? If European didn't conquer Africa maybe African will have a great chance to live in equality. I feel happy that there's stories like that one being told. Art is giving humans a chance to survive due to their suffering. Thanks for everyone being involved in such a masterpiece work like.