Synopsis

In this acclaimed film which won top directing and acting prizes at the Venice Film Festival, writer-director Garrone presents a “reverse shot” of the immigration experience while unfurling an epic, cinematographically magnificent odyssey from West Africa to Italy. The story is told through the mind’s eye and experiences of two Senegalese teenagers living in Dakar who yearn for a brighter future in Europe. Yet between their dreams and reality lies a treacherous journey through a labyrinth of checkpoints, the scorched Saharan desert, a fetid North African prison and the vast waters of the Mediterranean where thousands have died packed inside vessels barely fit for passage.

Critics Views

“Garrone’s film has a three-dimensional and devastatingly realized human soul at its core. The world could do with paying attention to Seydou’s story and the millions of other real ones like it.” Indiewire

“While the landscapes, especially in the parched Sahara section of the story, are dazzling, Carnera’s camera always keeps the focus on the humans, sometimes specks seen from great distances moving through the sand and sometimes studied in close-ups that fill the widescreen canvas.” The Hollywood Reporter

“This is a film that, for all its brutal horrors, keeps a kernel of hope and faith in the inherent decency of humankind (or some of it at least).” The Observer

Academy Awards 2024
Nomination: International Feature Film 

Venice Film Festival 2023
Winner: Silver Lion – Award for Best Director: Matteo Garrone
Winner: Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best New Talent: Seydou Sarr

Golden Globe Awards 2024
Nomination: Best Motion Picture – Non English Language 

Film Rating

IMDb
 Critics: 79%  Audience 76%

Rotten Tomatoes
Critics positive review 96%   Audience Liked It 89%

 Stockbridge Audience Score: 89%

Audience Comments

I’m sure it was a brilliant film, but it was too horrific to watch.
Gave a good insight into the horrors of people trafficking – but very disquieting in parts
Brilliant performance from the main character Seydou Sarr and beautiful cinematography. A hard watch but ultimately a very worthwhile experience. Glad to have seen it.
Harrowing yet important viewing
Man’s inhumanity to man writ large.
But in a stunning performance honour shines through and wins out.
What a world we live in. And how lucky are we
It should be compulsory viewing for all MPs!
Shocking, enlightening and reflective. Glad I saw it. Brilliantly acted.
An extremely gripping gritty film that brought back memories of desert heat and the smells and ways of getting through life. The portrayal of the family pressures on the two cousins to get to Europe to primarily earn money for their extended families after the death of Seydoo father. Each in their way grew in stature as each con and setback was dealt with by hard graft but also the older builder enabling them to find each other and themselves giving support to the other migrants on the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to finally reach what to them is the promised land of Europe. Truly great film that all people who denigrate these incredible young men who have put their lives on the line and come through with life experiences that would benefit any country they reach. The should be treated as welcome guests and allowed to work for our benefit as well as the support they send back to their birth country and wider community.
Very thought-provoking
It should be compulsory viewing. Wonderfully acted.
Harrowing and enraging
Harrowing and important
It made me think much more profoundly about the experiences migrants go through
I found it all very moving, and thought the 2 main characterx (boys) were terrific
Thought provoking
Very gripping and realistic.