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Documentary

Ithaka (2023): Cast & Ratings

Ithaka (2023) movie poster

Ithaka is a 2023 documentary directed by Ben Lawrence, starring John Shipton, Stella Moris and Ai Weiwei. It runs 1 hour 46 minutes. Critics gave it 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
73%
Echo Score
44
Metascore
55
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Ithaka (2023) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 46m (106 min)
Director
Ben Lawrence
Genre
Documentary
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Ithaka About?

The premise of Ithaka without spoilers.

Facing a potential 175-year sentence in the United States, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's family wages a fight for his freedom. His father, John Shipton, and his fiancé, Stella Moris, lead the charge, advocating for his release and thrusting themselves into the global media spotlight. Their efforts spark an international journey as they confront the complexities of justice and attempt to secure Julian’s return.

Ithaka Themes & Keywords

· 1 tag
  • prison
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Cast & crew

Ithaka Cast

John Shipton leads the cast, with Stella Moris and Ai Weiwei. Directed by Ben Lawrence; 5 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Ithaka

· 1 more
From the director

More from Ben Lawrence

More films directed by Ben Lawrence, best-rated first: Hearts and Bones, Hearts and Bones and Ghosthunter.

Full filmography
Ratings

Ithaka Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Ithaka 73% on Rotten Tomatoes and 55 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 44/100, strongest in character & emotion (55) and weakest in art & craft (33).

44 /100

Ithaka Echo Score Breakdown

Overall, Ithaka delivers a well‑intentioned advocacy narrative but falls short in execution across most dimensions. Critics repeatedly cite its monotonous pacing, reliance on textual exposition, and lack of dramatic depth, while only a few acknowledge the emotional resonance of the family’s perspective. Technical craftsmanship and sensory design receive minimal praise, and the film offers little incentive for repeat viewings. Consequently, the documentary registers a low composite rating reflecting its mixed to negative reception.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 33

    Artistic execution in Ithaka is generally underwhelming. Critics note repetitive structuring and a reliance on onscreen text that hampers visual storytelling, while the pacing feels trapped between exposition and observation. No commentary highlights notable cinematography or design achievements, suggesting a modest technical achievement. Consequently, the film’s craft scores low on the artistic scale.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    Character portrayal centers on Julian Assonge’s family, delivering moments of emotional resonance. The Guardian and Observer praise the father’s perspective and Shipton’s nuanced intelligence, while other reviewers find the family narrative predictable and the hero portrayal reluctant. These mixed observations indicate modest character depth with occasional compelling insight. Overall, the character dimension receives a middling assessment.

  • Story & Flow 45

    Storytelling in Ithaka suffers from predictability and a lack of dramatic tension. Critics describe the documentary as monotonous, overly intellectualized, and less engaging than earlier works on the subject. While some acknowledge its advocacy purpose, the overall narrative cohesion is viewed as weak. The story component therefore scores below average.

  • Sensory Experience 50

    Sensory elements receive limited commentary, indicating an unremarkable auditory and visual profile. Reviews do not highlight music, sound design, or distinctive visual style, focusing instead on narrative issues. This absence of notable sensory impact suggests an average, serviceable presentation. Consequently, the sensory score remains modest.

  • Rewatch Factor 35

    Rewatch potential for Ithaka is limited due to its predictable structure and lack of new insights. Critics label it as unenlightening, repetitive, and insufficiently dramatic, diminishing incentive for repeat viewings. Although the family focus adds some emotional weight, the overall scarcity of fresh content curtails lasting appeal. The rewatch factor thus scores low.

Videos

Ithaka Trailers & Videos

3 videos: 2 trailers and 1 behind-the-scenes video.

Ithaka – Trailer
  • Trailer Ithaka: A Fight To Free Julian Assange | Trailer
  • Behind the Scenes ITHAKA World Premiere - New Julian Assange Documentary
Details

Ithaka Also Known As

Also known as “进击的巨人 最终季(前編)”.

Also known as
  • 进击的巨人 最终季(前編)

Seen Ithaka?

FAQ

Ithaka FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings and post-credit scenes of Ithaka, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Ithaka?

Ithaka runs 1 hour 46 minutes (106 minutes).

When was Ithaka released?

Ithaka was released on March 3, 2023.

Who directed Ithaka?

Ithaka was directed by Ben Lawrence.

More films by Ben Lawrence

Who is in the cast of Ithaka?

Ithaka stars John Shipton, Stella Moris and Ai Weiwei, among 5 credited actors.

How is Ithaka rated?

Ithaka has 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, 55 on Metacritic, 85% on TMDB and 4.6/5 on Letterboxd.

Does Ithaka have a post-credit scene?

No. Ithaka has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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