Io Capitano
Composite Score: 83.03
Starring: Seydou Sarr, Moustapha Fall, Issaka Sawagodo, Hichem Yacoubi, Doodou Sagna, Khady Sy, Bamar Kane, and Cheick Oumar Diaw
Director: Matteo Garrone
Writers: Matteo Garrone, Massimo Ceccherini, Massimo Gaudioso, and Andrea Tagliaferri
Genres: Drama, Adventure, Coming of Age
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Box Office: $6.86 million worldwide
Why should you Watch This Film?
Io Capitano is Matteo Garrone’s film about two Senegalese boys who decide to leave their homes in Dakar and travel to Europe in hopes of making it big. The film is inspired by actual stories of African migrants and follows Seydou (Seydou Sarr) and Moussa (Moustapha Fall) on their journey from Senegal, through Nigeria and Mali, across the Sahara, to Tripoli, and ultimately across the Mediterranean. Sarr’s performance, in particular, garnered much critical acclaim, and the film has been celebrated for its portrayal of the situations and realities of African migrants with a less Western lens than usual. Its acclaim also brought it some accolades, earning both Golden Globe and Oscar nominations for Best International Feature Film.
Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?
Though it’s by no means the most exploitative film to come out of Europe about the experiences of Africans, there are a few moments in the film that border on the trauma porn that is so commonplace in the film industry’s treatment of black and brown protagonists. I appreciate Garrone’s commitment to keeping the overall sense of positivity and hope throughout the film, so none of the darkness gets dwelt on for too long. Nevertheless, there’s one sequence in the middle of the film that takes place at a prison with a “torture room” that feels like it’s showcasing violence against Africans for the sake of violence. There’s no further explanation given, and it’s never actually returned to, so I can’t overlook its presence in an otherwise difficult but overall uplifting film. It doesn’t ruin the film by any means, but it bears mentioning that it’s still imperfect in its portrayal.
So wait, why should you Watch This Film?
Seydou Sarr is a revelation in this film, carrying its plot, elevating its scenes, and bringing emotional weight to every scene in a way that helps Matteo Garrone’s vision come to life. The story of Seydou and Moussa traveling across North Africa plays more like a blend of road trip and fantastical odyssey than an intense survival drama, which it could easily have become in the hands of a different director or with a less charismatic lead. Instead, Sarr’s portrayal of optimism then despair then despondency then hope then responsibility then triumph carries the audience on the journey with him, focused far more on his emotional and soulful state than on the actual situations unfolding on the screen. It’s an unexpectedly well-rounded performance by the young man from Senegal, which makes me hopeful that he can get more roles like it in the future. Garrone’s choice to focus on these youths from Senegal rather than one of the older (and potentially more tragic characters) allows the film to also exist as a coming-of-age tale, which offers that much more nuance to the way that it examines the passage – again, not so much as a series of injustices or atrocities, but as trials that shape the characters into who they’re meant to be.
Thanks to the dynamic and enthralling performance of Seydou Sarr, Matteo Garrone’s vision for Io Capitano is brough to full fruition, earning the film a place among the all-time greats. It’s not a film that’s entirely without Western tropes, but it does refreshingly stay away from the most problematic and troubling practices that are common in films about Africa and Africans. Currently, this film is not available to stream anywhere, but if you’re lucky, you might still be able to find it in theaters; otherwise, look for it when it does hit streaming, hopefully in the next couple of months.
