Avaliações de usuários

It's really hard to watch, as a privileged European. Being that comfortable, in a movie theatre, knowing that everything you see is true and is happening right now to people that was just born on the other side of our common sea, makes your stomach sick.

I loved it, and yet I don't know if I could see it again. Makes you feel helpless.

On the bad side (yes the other one was the good sire), it is too fast on some parts, you feel like they are skipping a lot. The story was probably just too long to be told in 2h. Some characters are not developed enough, they lack depth. I also felt like the true story was a little sweetned, to make it easier to watch.

An emotional rollercoaster of a film charting the journey of two young Senegalese cousins as they cross the Sahara and the Mediterranean to find their fortune in Europe. It gives the lie to those who demonise, to advance their political ambitions, such migrants. Technically, the film is astonishing, especially notable for Paolo Carnera's superb cinematography and. Marco Spoletini's sensitive editing. Everyone in the large, mainly non-professional, cast is superb, with a massive shout-out to Seydou Sarr, who finds himself as the eponymous captain. Director and co-writer Matteo Garrone, a great filmmaker, has delivered another masterwork.

Seydou and Moussa from Senegal have saved some money to make their dream come true - go to Europe and hopefully become famous. We see a bit of their life in Dakar, and then their journey to Sicily, through the desert partly on foot, abandoned by traffickers who had promised to bring them to Libya, and then they cross the Mediterranean Sea with a rotting ship without any sailor who'd know how to steer it. The film makes you live the experience; this was what I came to see, and this is what I got. It is based on the experiences of at least one of the main actors (don't know for sure about others). The film has grim and sad moments, some suspense, some despicable behaviour, greedy and ruthless, but also some poetic dream sequences, heartwarming humanity, and even some inspiring optimism. It is a very tough and dangerous undertaking and nobody should be forced to put themselves through it. The acting was great and we get some impressive scenery and photography as well even though the protagonists are not there to enjoy it. Highly recommended, best film I saw this summer.

One aspect that made me think is that in the beginning the life of the two cousins in Dakar doesn't look all too gloomy, and furthermore some people give them very realistic warnings about what they are going to go through. They decide to leave their families and take on the "adventure" anyway, which can be seen as rather stupid or at least naive really, but given they are 16 years old and have some drive to distance themselves from their childhood, this has some credibility. Still already in the beginning we can think that even if they reach Europe, chances are their life there will be no better, and there will be a point at which they will regret this. Although the film conveys a lot of sympathy for them, and for what the refugees have to go through generally, it could also be used to argue that Europe should close borders more strictly and do what it can to stop people being attracted to Europe based on unrealistic hopes. Certainly the film makes no attempt to convince the spectators that the two protagonists suffer real hardship in their home country and need to go away to have a bearable life. Certainly there will be refugees like this, but is it a majority? I'd still imagine many of those who go have stronger reasons than these two. No criticism of the film as it is certainly credible, still I think we are better off having clearly in mind that not all of these stories are like this one.

This marvellous film is a real piece of art, beautiful and terribly painful at once. I left the theatre shivering and I could not think about much else for days.

This is the realistic story of a couple of young Senegalese boys, who want to go after their dreams and leave their homeland to get to Europe, mistakenly perceived as the land where dreams come true. Unfortunately their decision leads them to an ordeal, a hellish journey in which survival is all they are left with.

What hurts terribly is the fact that what you see on screen is what actually happens in reality, in a world which is falling apart more and more and in which humanity has lost every sense of being human.

We always think that the devil is an entity hidden in an outer dimension, but in my opinion it is actually in human beings themselves...

Nevertheless the most beautiful and moving aspect of this incredible movie is that the protagonists don't lose their humanity, their compassion and their love, they are not turned into the devils that captured them. This is exactly the point where we should all start from...

This is one of the most outstanding movies that I've seen in recent years, and one that should be compulsory viewing for all.

Illuminating, heart-breaking but ultimately uplifting, LO CAPITANO casts an unflinching eye upon the gruelling journey that so many illegal immigrants undertake in the hope of a better life.

The two innocents at the heart of the story are captivating in their naivety which is quickly crushed by the brutality of the heartless opportunists who exploit them at every step.

Yet, it also conveys a message of hope and triumph of the spirit. A superb film that's not to be missed. If I could rate it 11 out of 10, I would.

People are always drawn to the idea of a better life, and all too many of them are fooled (or fool themselves) into believing that all they have to do is to find their way to America or Australia or (as here) Europe, and they will have found paradise. Many thousands of people set out on these journeys of hope every year. What proportion of them make it? No-one knows, but it's unlikely to be that high. What proportion of those that make it think it was worthwhile? No-one knows that either.

Seydou and Moussa are teenaged cousins from Senegal who have come to believe in the dream. They've saved what they think is enough money, and set out without telling their families.

Then they face reality. Their journey leads from Senegal to Mali; to Niger; to Libya; and then across the Mediterranean to Italy. Or so they hope. What they soon realise is that the the people-traffickers through whose hands they pass are simply after their money. If some poor souls die along they way, who cares? The least brutal encounter is with a border guard who says "I recognise a fake passport when I see one. Fifty dollars to ignore it." The most brutal is very brutal indeed.

At one point the cousins are separated, and the film follows Seydou. He makes it to the shores of Libya via a stroke of luck that strikes the viewer as a bit too convenient. He is then reunited with his cousin via another all-too-convenient stroke of luck.

The last act of the film is the crossing of the Mediterranean, with Seydou tricked into skippering a boat that looks as though it's already been scrapped twice (hence the title, Io Capitano which means I am the Captain. Most of the cast speak a dialect which it took me a while even to recognise as a sort of Pidgin French).

The film is beautifully shot and the cast (largely non-professional as far as I could make out) are superb throughout. I do, however, have a problem with the ending. It's too optimistic, too upbeat. The mass migration of so many desperate people (and their ruthless exploitation) is the great crisis of our age. I'm not going to pretend I have an answer, other than the fact that the necessary first step is for as many people as possible to know what's going on. To this end, I would've thought a more brutal - even depressing - ending would've driven the necessary message home more effectively.

Still, this is a first-class film, which will live long in the memory.

This movie will inspire and haunt me for the rest of my life. I had the privilege of seeing it at the Palm Springs Film Festival. The director, the two main cast members, Seydou Sarr and Moustapha Fall plus the survivor whose life inspired the story were there. They told us more about the harrowing journey of two young boys from Senegal to Italy and the making of Io Capitano.

Director, Matteo Garrone said he wanted the production aspect of Io Capitano to be invisible. It was. The courage of refugees and migrants everywhere is inspiring but we rarely learn about their actual journeys. Io Capitano leaves us with the burning question, how come some people can move about the globe freely while others cannot? It is impossible to overlook the fact that those who travel freely are usually white and those who cannot without a lot of money or facing extreme danger. Are not.

I hope this riveting film has a social impact as strong as the impact it had on us in the audience.

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.

A film that allows you to evaluate a socio-political theme, strongly felt in Italy, from the perspective of the victims, first introducing the Senegalese culture and then following the migratory odyssey of two young boys towards an unknown Europe.

The journey from Dakar to Sicily, through the desert and sea, is inspired by real events lived by interviewed migrants.

The hardness and ruthlessness of these events is sweetened by dreamlike, magical, even mythological inserts, as if the told realities reached a level of incredibility such as to take the form of a fairy tale.

The choices of photography, screenplay and soundtracks are excellent and sometimes they elevate the raw scenes to a poetic level.

I always had a negative mindset about illegal immigrants, but here, in this outstanding movie, I found it so much easier to understand how difficult it is to leave everything you have to live a normal life. It shows how unquestionably unfair life can be for some people, dealing with hundreds of difficulties just to be able to pursue a dream which can not be true in their own country. I believe, all of us, as humans have this amazing ability to find a better way to help preventing this mount of pain for people like these teenagers. And this movie changed my perspective about this crisis. I am expectantly waiting to see a better life for every human, regardless of where on this planet they are living.

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.

The movie is mediocre at best. The motivation of the main characters at the beginning is totally unexplainable. Their family lives a life that is shown as really satisfying for them so what is the boys' drive to take this perilous journey, for which they were warned from the very beginning, is beyond understanding. They just want to come to Europe and become famous "so white people can ask them for autographs". This is laughable as a motivation and should make a normal viewer unsympathetic to their motivation. One gets the feeling that the whole movie is a device just to achieve this - the two actors to become "famous" instead of really telling about the tragedy of those who really need to escape their country for economic or political reasons. Because there are immigrants with a thousand times more relatable and understandable motivations, including from those countries shown in the movie. Then these 16 yrs old kids work something as a side hustle, just laying some bricks, after school and before the family fiesta, unknown to the mother of the first one. And they are able to save something like 1000 USD just from this so they can leave for the journey! A normal viewer cannot help but wonder once again why do they need to leave for Europe if they can win so much money for a couple of hours of work... And then they start the joutney but all the misfortunes that happen to them seem exaggerated and yet they simply overcome them so when the next one comes you just know that it is going to be ok for them. Perhaps the fact that their motivation for undertaking this perilous trip was not explained well in the beginning contributes to the lack of emotional attachment to their troubles as well. At the end the two main characters haven't learned anything, they just think they are heroes. If it wasn't for the theme this movie tries to tackle (quite unsuccessfully), which is very trendy nowadays, it would have never been nominated for an Oscar.

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.

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.

The Italian director of the film "Gomorrah", Matteo Garrone tells the story of Two teenage boys, Seydou and Moussa journeying from their home in Senegal to Europe in the Oscar-nominated movie Io Capitano. Their journey takes them across the Sahara desert, encounters with vicious criminals and other unspeakable atrocities ending with a Mediterranean sea journey to Italy in a boat where the migrants themselves are forced to operate.

It is a movie that shows human suffering and cruelty but ultimately it fails to become an emotionally overwhelming cinematic experience, at least for me.

Io Capitano is worth seeing, for the work of Seydou Sarr in the film's lead role, he excels in carrying the whole movie till the end. The movie's failure is in its generic filmmaking style. The story is told linearly with a starkly realistic visual aesthetic. There are no surprises or unpredictability. This kind of narrative should give more time for the audience to experience the suffering emotionally. The rushed-through narrative of Io Capitano tries to capture an expansive narrative of one immigrant traveling from Senegal to Italy resulting in a film where the most devastating developments are introduced and then disposed of quickly. No character gets enough time to develop and only Seydou and Moussa remain in your mind. A handful of fantasy sequences peppered throughout Io Capitano, which provide a drastic departure from the starkly realistic visual aesthetic of the rest of the movie. Io Capitano's brief fantasy sequences involving flying figures stand out so much because the rest of the movie is very rudimentary on a visual level. This movie is celebrated multi-award-winning with an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. So this review is my personal feelings.

Remember what Martin Scorsese said in an interview "Not every film is for every person. Not every novel is for every reader, not every painting, etc."

"Io Capitano" (2023) offers a harrowing and brutally honest portrayal of the ongoing refugee crisis from Africa to Europe. Set against the backdrop of real events, the film provides a starkly realistic depiction of the perilous journey faced by countless individuals seeking economical refuge.

From the outset, "Io Capitano" presents a hopeful adventure as the characters embark on their journey, but this optimism is gradually shattered by the harsh realities they encounter along the way. The film skillfully navigates the transition from hope to despair, leaving viewers shocked by the stark contrast between their initial aspirations and the nightmare they find themselves in.

What sets "Io Capitano" apart is its unflinching portrayal of the grim realities of the refugee experience. Through its raw and honest depiction, the film sheds light on the profound struggles and sacrifices faced by those fleeing conflict and persecution.

Based on a blend of real events and fictional characters from Senegal, the film offers a compelling narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relevant. As the characters journey from Senegal through Africa to Tripoli and ultimately to Europe, with Italy as their final destination, audiences are taken on a poignant and unforgettable odyssey.

"Io Capitano" is a powerful and thought-provoking film that sheds light on one of the most pressing humanitarian crises of our time. Its stark realism and unflinching honesty make it a must-watch for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the human cost of migration and human trafficking.

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.

IO CAPITANO (2023) Nominated for Best International Film. Matteo Garrone's (GOMORRAH) latest puts a human face on the immigration issue that has affected the Mediterranean border nations, particularly Italy's Sardinia and Sicily.

Garrone's screenplay (with a team of writers and translators) focuses on two young refugees from Senegal, Seydou (Seydou Sarr) and Moussa (Moustapha Fall), cousins who dream of creating music in the West. Their journey leads them into the dark underworld of coyotes, human traffickers and, generally, the scum of humanity where people are chattel to make money. All along the way, these vermin constantly tell the pair that they are there to "help".

The movie is very well shot by Paolo Carnera (THE WHITE TIGER) and scored by Andrea Farri. It's an impressive physical production. The acting by a large group of mostly first-timers is convincing. Garrone adds a few touches of magic realism to the mix, but his direction is mostly straight-forward - as is the script. Perhaps a bit too much so.

Where the movie is at its strongest is on putting a human face on the immigration issue. There are no white European characters and the only Italian that is spoken are small phrases such as the title. Garrone doesn't shy away from the dreadful situations Seydou and Moussa encounter, but he always injects some hope into the dire events. Humanity reigns.

Walking through the desert with my Nikes on.

I now understand why only male doctors and engineers are arriving on the shores of Europe, pretty tough excursion from sub-Saharan countries to the shores of the Mediterranean. Then again, I doubt all of them go through this, by the looks of them.

I felt nothing because it was manipulative, reductive and too long. And what was the kids' motivation to leave? Just because others did it before? I actually enjoyed the few scenes he had at home and seemed like a nice life - although in poverty. Nominated for political reasons and semi-shocking scenes...

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!!!