Io Capitano

Film title

Io Capitano

Synopsis

Seydou and Moussa are cousins living in Dakar, Senegal. The two teenagers have been scrupulously saving for months in order to travel to Europe, where they hope to find even greater opportunities. Seydou’s mother forbids him to go, as the journey across the Mediterranean is notoriously dangerous. But the two friends defy this warning and set out by bus northwards. All too soon, the journey becomes more expensive, despite the methods of transportation becoming less and less secure, as the traffickers turn ruthless. They end up crossing the blistering Sahara Desert on foot, transiting through a horrific detention centre in Libya, and cramming into a perilously small boat to cross the sea to Italy. With no navigation skills and unable to swim, Seydou is made captain of this vessel of desperate souls. Based on real-life accounts, this coming-of-age drama explores issues surrounding migration from an African perspective.