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Io Capitano

Play trailer 1:25 Poster for Io Capitano Released Feb 23, 2024 2h 2m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 111 Reviews 88% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
In this acclaimed film which won top directing and acting prizes at the Venice Film Festival, writer-director Garrone presents a "reverse shot" of the immigration experience while unfurling an epic, cinematographically magnificent odyssey from West Africa to Italy. The story is told through the mind’s eye and experiences of two Senegalese teenagers living in Dakar who yearn for a brighter future in Europe. Yet between their dreams and reality lies a treacherous journey through a labyrinth of checkpoints, the scorched Saharan desert, a fetid North African prison and the vast waters of the Mediterranean where thousands have died packed inside vessels barely fit for passage.
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Io Capitano

Io Capitano

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Critics Consensus

A journey toward hope, Io Capitano perambulates through the ravishing Saharan landscape encountering the most sublime and debased corners of humanity.

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Critics Reviews

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Wendy Ide Observer (UK) This is a film that, for all its brutal horrors, keeps a kernel of hope and faith in the inherent decency of humankind (or some of it at least). Rated: 4/5 Apr 7, 2024 Full Review Danny Leigh Financial Times The film makes brilliant if often harrowing cinema. But Garrone’s boldest strokes are also subtle. Rated: 4/5 Apr 4, 2024 Full Review Katherine McLaughlin Little White Lies Sarr and Fall are wonderful young actors and excel in displaying joy and fear, presenting a warming and believable brotherly dynamic. Rated: 3/5 Apr 3, 2024 Full Review Samantha Schuster Cinéfilo Serial A story full of tension and emotion, which strikes a great balance between depicting human misery and the bright side of life. Strong performances from young non-professionals and a well-executed production round out this film. [Full Review in Spanish] Rated: 3.5/5 Jul 18, 2025 Full Review Anna Hoang Boston Hassle The lens of an Italian director and co-writer this story is wont for suspicion, but the endeavors in tailoring this story to the African immigrant experience is admirable. Rated: 3/5 Jul 14, 2025 Full Review David Bax Battleship Pretension Perhaps the biggest sign that the film represents a leap forward for Garrone, though, is that he gracefully portrays touching moments of kindness amidst all the turmoil. May 23, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Alessandro An epic journey of incredible strength, a necessary tale for our time Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/01/24 Full Review lawrence m Extremely poignant and superbly acted. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/04/24 Full Review Roy J They come here illegally because they don't have a legal way. The illegal way is harder and risky, nobody wants to do this, but they have no choice. Beautiful movie, love the ending. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/29/24 Full Review Film Buff Utery harrowing and heartbreaking story of the trials and tribulations of migration from Africa to Europe. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Nadir Very heart breaking to see such a treacherous journey. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/24/24 Full Review MATHEUS B Io Capitano is a pretty emocional movie, that two young senegalese man dream to reach Europe. They face lot of very hard chalenges and situations that seemed impossible to escape. The movie portrays a very poor and dificult reality in the country, and show the horrible things that people have to go through and do to go to Europe. The movie was nominated to win the Best International Movie on the Oscar Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/25/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Io Capitano

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Movie Info

Synopsis In this acclaimed film which won top directing and acting prizes at the Venice Film Festival, writer-director Garrone presents a "reverse shot" of the immigration experience while unfurling an epic, cinematographically magnificent odyssey from West Africa to Italy. The story is told through the mind’s eye and experiences of two Senegalese teenagers living in Dakar who yearn for a brighter future in Europe. Yet between their dreams and reality lies a treacherous journey through a labyrinth of checkpoints, the scorched Saharan desert, a fetid North African prison and the vast waters of the Mediterranean where thousands have died packed inside vessels barely fit for passage.
Director
Matteo Garrone
Producer
Paolo Del Brocco, Matteo Garrone
Screenwriter
Matteo Garrone, Massimo Gaudioso, Massimo Ceccherini, Andrea Tagliaferri
Distributor
Cohen Media Group
Production Co
Archimede, RAI Cinema, Pathé Films, Tarantula
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Wolof
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 23, 2024, Limited
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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