Freda Maddison reviews Io Capitano at Borderlines Film Festival

‘Io Capitano’, a harrowing story that follows two teenage boys on a journey through an unforgiving world, a world which is unyielding as it is beautiful.

Propelled forwards by their dreams and ambitions, Seydou and Moussa decide to embark on an infamously perilous passage from Senegal to Europe, with the odyssean nature of this exodus exacerbated by the vast and visually striking panoramic shots of the Libyan desert, in which the immensity of the world they are entering is conveyed. Acting upon their natural human desires to travel to lands beyond their community and create better lives for themselves and their family, ‘Io Capitano’ works to humanise refugees such as Seydou and Moussa, thus resisting the stigma that the media creates. We as an audience are captivated by the innocence and beauty of our protagonists’ ambitions and inspired by their unwavering hope. In times of grief and helplessness, Seydou’s dreamlike visions, an interweave of magical realism with the harsh verisimilitude of life, indicate once again his indomitable spirit- an urgent will to survive.

At the beginning of the film, Director Matteo Garrone immediately whisks the audience into a culture that is vibrant and busy, a Senegalese village where family is of paramount importance.  Indeed, the relationship between (cousins) Seydou and Moussa is a pleasure to behold, with its quiet intimacy and ease conveying their devotion to one another.  However, ‘Io Capitano’ is also a film that is relentless and brutal in its nature, although respite can be found in rare moments of humour, it cannot be denied that the experiences that Seydou and Moussa go through are heart breaking and desperate. Despite this film being sometimes an uncomfortable watch, with a deep sense of dread pervading many scenes, it is also an extremely important portrayal of the hardships that refugees face. ‘Io Capitano’ tells a tale of courage in the face of unspeakable evil and exploitation, but it also reminds us of the power of kindness. A film that doesn’t shy away from reality, but is also a crucial, visceral narrative that explores the human capacity for resilience, despite all the odds. Definitely worth a viewing.