Io Capitano

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1:25

Io Capitano

Released Feb 23, 2024

2h 2m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

96%

Tomatometer

112 Reviews

87%

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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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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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

Clotilde Chinnici

Movie Marker

Overall, it feels like the film plays it too safe to please its mostly Western audience who can sit comfortably in their cinemas and watch Io Capitano without having to feel guilty about the actions of their own countries.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 27, 2025

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

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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

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Seydou

Moustapha Fall

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Io Capitano: Trailer 1

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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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