--- title: "Io Capitano: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/io-capitano/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/io-capitano" critics_score: 77 critics_reviews: 10 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Io Capitano (2023): what the critics said Critics' score 77 from 10 reviews: 8 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. The reviews for Io Capitano are largely warm, and the praise clusters on two things. First is Seydou Sarr, the non-professional lead, whose debut most critics single out as the reason the film works; several say he keeps the story from tipping into sentiment. Second is Garrone’s handling of the journey from Senegal to Libya and the sea, which most critics describe as detailed, unflinching and closer to an adventure film than a lecture, with passages of fable and magic realism set against the horror. Reservations, where they appear, concern tone and shape: a few reviews note wide tonal swings and a reliance on coincidence to move the story along. The dissent is narrow but pointed. RogerEbert.com finds it a well-meaning, middling social drama that leans on repeated images of suffering, and Collider praises Sarr but finds the filmmaking generic and the narrative overstuffed. No review is outright negative. ## The New Yorker — Justin Chang Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 February 2024. Garrone's epic about two young Senegalese cousins attempting to reach Italy is his finest film since Gomorrah. It reconciles dramatic and stylistic modes through a dexterous balancing act and Sarr's wondrous performance as the determined, empathetic protagonist. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-current-cinema/two-african-migrants-fantastical-harrowing-odyssey-in-io-capitano) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2023. Festival review. Garrone's stirring film traces one Senegalese teen's vast journey from Dakar to Tripoli and an overloaded migrant boat in gripping detail. It yields his most robust, purely satisfying filmmaking since Gomorrah, classical in construction and enlivened by the lead performance. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2023/film/reviews/io-capitano-review-matteo-garrone-1235714571) ## Los Angeles Times — Carlos Aguilar Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 23 February 2024. Garrone's stirring, ultimately life-affirming film traces a teenager's grueling odyssey from West Africa to Libya based on real accounts. It is as unflinching as it is robust with empathy, thanks largely to the revelatory debut performance of Seydou Sarr. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2024-02-23/io-capitano-review-africa-migrant-matteo-garrone-italy-oscar-nominee) ## The Telegraph Rating 4/5. The review describes a harrowing yet uplifting migration odyssey about two endearing teenage cousins enduring a gruelling journey from Senegal to Europe. It praises the rich drama, their affectionate friendship, and Garrone's flair for detail that gives the story the texture of an adventure rather than a tract. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/io-capitano-review/) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 4 April 2024. The review calls it a stunning drama that deserves to be a hit, following the hellish odyssey of two teens from Senegal. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/article/io-capitano-review-matteo-garrones-x2cmlz5k2) ## RogerEbert.com Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 23 February 2024. The film is a well-intentioned but middling Oscar-bait social drama about two Senegalese teens making the dangerous journey to Europe. It flirts with misery porn through repetitive suffering shots but incorporates magical realism elements reminiscent of El Norte. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/io-capitano-film-review-2024) ## IndieWire — Leila Latif 7 September 2023. Festival review. Garrone’s film puts a human face on the migrant crisis through one of the most impressive and transfixing acting debuts in recent memory from breakout Seydou Sarr. The story follows two Senegalese teenagers on their desperate quest across Africa and the sea. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/io-capitano-review-matteo-garrone-1234903196/) ## Radio Times — James Mottram Rating 4 out of 5. The critic calls the Oscar-nominated drama both shocking and uplifting, praising its fable-like quality thanks to beautiful burnished images and the infectious energy of the lead performances that make it impossible not to root for the characters. It notes some narrative strains from coincidence but commends the director's skill in keeping audiences engaged. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-al7lh6/io-capitano/) ## Screen Daily 6 September 2023. Festival review. The review describes the film as an impressive feature that turns the long migrant journey of two Senegalese teenagers into a hero’s quest, anchored by a powerful first-time performance. It notes the blend of gritty realism with recognizably Garronian touches of magic realism and fairy-tale elements. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/io-capitano-venice-review/5185631.article) ## Sight and Sound 5 April 2024. The critic praises the film's energy and vivid details drawn from research, noting its episodic road-movie structure and tonal shifts that allow nightmares to give way to gentler passages. The central performance rescues the film from sentimental excesses while highlighting its blend of naturalistic and fantastical elements. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/io-capitano-surreal-shapeshifting-quest-new-life-europe) ## Slant Magazine — Chris Barsanti 11 February 2024. The film grippingly exalts migration as a hero’s journey, building on docudrama realism while reaching toward the mythological. It highlights the lead character’s hidden strength and resourcefulness amid harrowing challenges. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/io-capitano-review-matteo-garone/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw 2 April 2024. The critic calls the film a passionate exposé of the modern slave trade and exploitation faced by would-be migrants. It highlights the characters' humanity and compassion that remain buoyant despite the horrors of the journey. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/apr/02/io-capitano-review-matteo-garrone) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin 7 September 2023. Festival review. The critic calls it an emotionally searing yet ultimately uplifting epic that confines itself to the experience of a Senegalese teenager on his perilous journey to Europe. The non-professional lead delivers a remarkably mature performance amid moments of horror and ravishing beauty. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/me-captain-io-captiano-review-matteo-garrone-1235584784/) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis Rating Critic's Pick. 22 February 2024. Garrone focuses a tender yet unsparing lens on two Senegalese teenage cousins journeying from Dakar to Europe. The director's great strength is his tenderness of touch, which keeps despair at bay while centering the fully rounded, achingly hopeful characters. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/movies/io-capitano-review-matteo-garrone.html) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 4 out of 5 stars. 4 April 2024. The review highlights the blend of stark social drama and boy's own adventure in this strikingly photographed odyssey, which is wildly exciting and horrifying without feeling exploitative. It singles out the terrific newcomer performance for giving the hard-hitting drama a heart of gold. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/io-capitano-2024) ## Deadline — Damon Wise Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 6 September 2023. Festival review. The critic calls it a blisteringly topical drama that might be Garrone’s most traditional and best yet. The review singles out the authentic casting of non-professionals and the standout, emotionally complex performance by newcomer Seydou Sarr. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2023/09/io-capitano-review-a-gritty-heartbreaking-study-of-migrant-dreams-from-italian-director-matteo-garrone-1235538261/) ## The Skinny — Carmen Paddock Rating ★★★★. 5 March 2024. The film is a heartrending story of the end of innocence, following two Senegalese cousins on a treacherous migration from West Africa through Libya to Europe. It singles out the fully fleshed characters with their own dreams for praise, while noting the plea for humanity amid draconian immigration laws. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/io-capitano) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 March 2024. The critic calls it a compelling addition to recent migrant dramas. They praise the leads' fresh performances and the beautiful cinematography while noting the film's wide tonal swings. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/io-capitano-2023-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## Collider — Lisa Laman Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 25 February 2024. Praises the young lead's performance but criticizes the overstuffed narrative, generic filmmaking, and lack of emotional impact despite harrowing events. [Read the review](https://collider.com/io-capitano-movie-review/) ## Paste — Sage Dunlap Rating 8.5. 20 February 2024. The critic praises the film's realistic portrayal of a migrant journey and the resilient performances of the young leads, highlighting how it humanizes the subjects and critiques immigration policies while showing moments of joy and victory. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/matteo-garrone/io-capitano-review) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/io-capitano.md