Io Capitano (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Io Capitano is a 2024 drama directed by Matteo Garrone, starring Seydou Sarr as Seydou, Ndeye Khady Sy and Venus Gueye. It runs 2 hours 1 minute and earned $7.6 million worldwide on a $12.1 million budget. It was nominated for 1 Oscar. Critics gave it 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic. Stream it on Cineverse and Cohen Media, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.
- Released
- Runtime
- 2h 1m (121 min)
- Director
- Matteo Garrone
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Wolof
- Studio
- Archimede
- Budget
- $12.1M
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Io Capitano About?
The premise of Io Capitano without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
Two Senegalese teenagers in Dakar dream of a better life and embark on a dangerous journey to Europe. Their hopes are challenged as they face the harsh realities of migration, including a difficult trek across the desert, imprisonment, and perilous voyages across the sea.
Io Capitano Themes & Keywords
· 44 tags- money hidden up anus
- fake passport
- human smuggling
- overloaded boat
- title spoken by character
- young
- desert
- sahara
- mediterranean sea
- 2020s
- first person title
- title in title
+32 more Show fewer
- senegalese man
- police bribe
- bribery
- asking for a bribe
- illegal border crossing
- mali
- niger
- libya
- tripoli libya
- libyan desert
- construction site
- bricklayer
- bricklaying
- torture
- head wound
- riding in the back of a pickup truck
- falling off a truck
- dream sequence
- pouring hot wax on skin
- hung upside down
- sicily
- oil rig
- cousin cousin relationship
- two word title
- docudrama drama
- tragedy drama
- emigration
- african immigrant
- young man
- senegalese immigrant
- walking across desert
- desert crossing
Where to Watch Io Capitano
Stream it on Cineverse and Cohen Media, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 5
Io Capitano Cast & Characters
Seydou Sarr leads the cast as Seydou, with Ndeye Khady Sy as Madre di Seydou and Venus Gueye as Sorellina di Seydou. Directed by Matteo Garrone; 20 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Matteo Garrone
- Seydou Sarr as Seydou
- Ndeye Khady Sy as Madre di Seydou
- Venus Gueye as Sorellina di Seydou
- Moustapha Fall as Moussa
Also Starring in Io Capitano
· 16 more- Issaka Sawadogo Martin
- Hichem Yacoubi Ahmed
- Affif Ben Badra Autista pickup
- Oumar Diaw Sisko
- Bamar Kane Bouba
- Flaure B.B. Kabore Donna incinta
- Doodou Sagna Charlatan
- Joe Lassana Passport man
- Mamadou Sani Poliziotto di frontiera
- Beatrice Gnonko Donna nel deserto
- Observateur Ebène Connection man
- Jackie Zappa Middle man
- Adbellah Elbkiri Compratore libico
- Bidar Abdelahad Poliziotto
- Mohamed Amine Kihel Guardia prigione
- Mouhamed Gaye Angioletto
Io Capitano Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Io Capitano 96% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 78/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (60).
Io Capitano Echo Score Breakdown
In overall terms, the film presents a compelling visual and emotional journey while grappling with narrative unevenness. Critics widely praise Garrone’s striking cinematography and Seydou Sarr’s sensitive lead performance, which anchor the story in palpable human struggle. Some reviewers note moments of generic plotting and overlong sequences that undercut pacing. Ultimately, Io Capitano stands as a visually potent, empathetic drama that is occasionally hindered by its familiar structural beats.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 85
In terms of art and craft, Io Capitano excels with its meticulously composed frames and immersive desert vistas. The cinematography employs an understated color palette that underscores both the expanses of the Sahara and the intimacy of the protagonists’ journey. Editing maintains cohesion between stark landscapes and moments of magical realism. Overall, the film’s visual design and production clarity create an arresting backdrop for the narrative’s emotional stakes.
- Character & Emotion 90
In terms of character and emotion, the lead performances anchor the film with nuanced authenticity. Seydou Sarr’s portrayal charts subtle emotional shifts, balancing vulnerability and resilience, while Moustapha Fall complements with quiet strength. The chemistry between the two newcomers reinforces the story’s human core. As a result, the film delivers richly detailed character arcs that foster genuine empathy and sustained audience investment.
- Story & Flow 65
When it comes to story and flow, Io Capitano weaves real-life testimonies with moments of imaginative embellishment, creating an adventurous framework. The narrative engages through varied obstacles but occasionally relies on familiar plot turns that diminish tension. Several sequences feel overlong, interrupting narrative momentum despite compelling stakes. Overall, the film’s blend of authenticity and dramatization produces a solid but uneven storytelling experience.
- Sensory Experience 75
In sensory terms, the film delivers a cohesive visual and auditory atmosphere that deepens immersion. The sweeping desert and sea vistas harmonize with a restrained soundtrack, punctuated by moments of diegetic sound that heighten tension. Visual sequences of magical realism introduce textural contrast without disrupting tonal consistency. Altogether, the sound design and visual style work in concert to evoke both the vastness of the journey and its intimate emotional landscape.
- Rewatch Factor 60
In terms of rewatch potential, the film offers powerful thematic depth but can prove taxing on repeated viewings. Its harrowing scenarios and immersive tension establish a memorable first experience, yet the narrative’s heavy emotional weight may limit casual rewatches. Nevertheless, the sincerity of the performances and the film’s visual poetry encourage reflection, granting it enduring appeal for viewers seeking substantive drama.
-
Rotten Tomatoes 96% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 87%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 79 Metascore
User score 7.4
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 78% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
72498 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Io Capitano Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Io Capitano from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
As the scorching sun of the desert beat mercilessly on their sunburned skin, Seydou and Moussa, two tenacious teenagers from Senegal, embarked on a perilous journey, brandishing false passports in a desperate bid to escape the oppressive chains of poverty. Their adventure commenced in Dakar, but it wasn’t until they traversed through Mali that their deception was uncovered by a vigilant policeman. A well-placed bribe saved them from incarceration, allowing the cousins to resume their treacherous quest, this time venturing through Niger. There, they paid to join a ragtag group of travelers who promised to guide them across the perilous expanse of the desert into Libya.
Full summary
The whole story of Io Capitano, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Io Capitano Box Office & Budget
Io Capitano grossed $7.6 million worldwide on a $12.1 million budget, 63% of what it cost. $150,048 came from the US and Canada and $7.5 million (98%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$7.6M
63% of its budget back
- US & Canada
- $150K
- International
- $7.5M
- Budget
- $12.1M
Io Capitano Awards & Nominations
Io Capitano was nominated for 1 Oscar.
1 nomination1 ceremony
-
Oscars 2024 1 nomination- Nominated International Feature Film
Io Capitano Trailers & Videos
8 videos: 3 trailers, 3 teasers and 2 featurettes.
- Trailer US Trailer [Subtitled]
- Trailer Official US Trailer V2 [Subtitled]
- Teaser Official :15 Cutdown [Subtitled]
- Teaser Official :30 Cutdown [Subtitled]
How Well Do You Know Io Capitano?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Where did Seydou and Moussa's odyssey begin?
Io Capitano Also Known As
35 alternative titles, including “Iao Capitano” and “少年的漂浪旅程”.
- Also known as
-
- Iao Capitano
- 少年的漂浪旅程
- Yo capitán
- Moi, capitaine
- Εγώ, καπετάνιος
- Ja, kapitan
- Eu Capitão
- Я - капитан
- Kaptenen
- من کاپیتان هستم
- Kaptan Benim
- I
+23 more Show fewer
- Captain
- Ich Capitano
- Я - капітан
- Eu
- Capitão
- 尋找彼岸的少年
- Moi capitaine
- 이오 카피타노
- קפיטאנו
- 我是船长
- Yo
- Capitán
- Já kapitán
- Я – капитан
- Ја сам капетан
- Jaz sem kapitan
- Én vagyok a kapitány
- 僕はキャプテン
- Aš čia kapitonas
- Jo capità
- เส้นทางฝันฝ่านรก
- Mina
- Kapten
Seen Io Capitano?
Movies Like Io Capitano
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Mediterranea, Mediterraneo: The Law of the Sea and A Ciambra.
Io Capitano FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Io Capitano, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Io Capitano?
Io Capitano runs 2 hours 1 minute (121 minutes).
When was Io Capitano released?
Io Capitano was released on February 23, 2024.
Who directed Io Capitano?
Io Capitano was directed by Matteo Garrone.
More films by Matteo Garrone Who is in the cast of Io Capitano?
Io Capitano stars Seydou Sarr as Seydou, Ndeye Khady Sy as Madre di Seydou and Venus Gueye as Sorellina di Seydou, among 20 credited actors.
Where can I watch Io Capitano?
In the US, Io Capitano is streaming on Cineverse, Cohen Media and Fandor and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Io Capitano make at the box office?
Io Capitano grossed $7.6 million worldwide ($150,048 domestic, $7.5 million international) on a budget of $12.1 million.
How is Io Capitano rated?
Io Capitano has 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic, 78% on TMDB and 3.9/5 on Letterboxd.
Was Io Capitano nominated for any awards?
Io Capitano received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.
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