2023, Italy/Belgium, 121 minutes, feature, drama
Director: Matteo Garrone
Script: Matteo Garrone, Massimo Ceccherini, Massimo Gaudioso, Andrea Tagliaferri
Cinematography: Paolo Carnera
Cast: Seydou Sarr, Moustapha Fall, Hichem Yacoubi, Affif Ben Badra, Issaka Sawadogo
Producer: Alessio Lazzareschi
Matteo Garrone’s film is not really about the migration crisis, although this topic is at its core. The Italian director is aware that others before him have told in detaisl about the journey of migrants trying to leave Africa, for whom the European Union has become the new El Dorado. Garrone revolves his story around the story of a shy and naive teenager who grows up to be a responsible and courageous adult. “Io Captaino”, is something like the modern “Odyssey”, a modern heroic saga, and like the ancient heroes young Seydou relies on valiant comrades to overcome terrible trials and face many real monsters.
Matteo Garrone
Matteo Garrone was born in Rome in 1968. He is the son of a theatre critic, Nico Garrone. In 1996 he won the “Sacher d’Oro” with the short film Silhouette (1996), that became one of the three episodes of his first feature film Land in Between (1996). He won Best Director at the European Film Awards and at the David di Donatello Awards for Gomorrah (2008). His film Reality (2012) competed in competition at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival and won the Grand Prix.
Filmography
2023 – OI Capitano
2018 – Dogman
2015 – Tales of Tales
2012 – Reality
2008 – Gamorrah
Festivals and Awards
2024 – African-American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) – Best International Film
2024 – CinEuphoria Awards – Best Director
2023 – San Sebastián International Film Festival – Best European Film
2023 – Venice Film Festival – Best Young Actor (Seydou Sarr)
2023 – Venice Film Festival – Best Director
2023 – Venice Film Festival – Best Production Director (Claudia Cravotta)
2023 – Venice Film Festival – UNESCO Award
2023 – Capri, Hollywood – Capri Foreign Language Film Award
2023 – Capri, Hollywood – Best European Director Award