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Motivational speakers and social media memes are quick to encourage people to follow their dreams while brushing aside the challenges that may come along the way. But the Oscar nominated drama Io Capitano follows a young man as he faces one challenge after another as he follows his dreams.
Io Capitano sets out on a harrowing journey with Seydou (Seydou Sarr) and his cousin, Moussa (Moustapha Fall), who’ve secretly taken on extra work for months in order to pay for their trip from their home in Senegal to Europe, where they plan to find high-profile jobs in the music industry to support their families. But after leaving their homes in the middle of the night, they end up facing one hardship after another on the journey to start their new lives in Europe.
While Seydou and Moussa naively thought that they were prepared for every challenge they’d face along the way—from buying fake passports to traveling through the heat of the desert—their journey proves to be much more costly and dangerous than they thought it would be. It’s a long and winding journey that’s filled with challenges—but, through it all, Seydou never loses hope. He’s strong and resolute and determined to make it to Europe with his cousin by his side.
For most of the film, the story feels like it’s following the all-too-real journey of two young men who dream of starting a new life on a new continent—no matter what it takes. It’s often painful to watch as they trudge through the desert under the burning sun—and the stunning cinematography will put viewers there, beside these two travelers.
But then there are the other times, when it feels more like an epic fantasy—when Seydou and Moussa are guided by a wise old man from their village, who sends them to speak to their ancestors or allows them to send messages back home. These moments may sometimes pull viewers out of the grave reality of this tale, but they add something magical in the process—building on the feelings of hope and determination that run just beneath the surface.
Still, Io Capitano isn’t always an easy film to watch. It’s sometimes beautiful and sometimes dreamlike, but it’s also filled with hardship and fear and violence. It’s a striking and emotional film about the real-life journeys that so many people embark on each day. And when it comes to an end, viewers will be left wondering about the hardships that are still to come for these determined travelers.
You can join these determined young men on their journey when Io Capitano arrives in select theaters on February 23, 2024.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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