The immigration narrative is reframed as a hero’s quest in Matteo Garrone’s searing depiction of a Senegalese teenager’s attempts to reach Europe’s hallowed shores. 16-year-old Seydou (Seydou Sarr), and his cousin, Moussa (Moustapha Fall), are gravely disillusioned when their journey from Dakar is fraught at every stage with escalating danger; they are robbed, manipulated, and mistreated before being forced to cross the Sahara on foot to Libya, where further indignities await before they must face the perilous sea crossing to Italy. Garrone’s perfectly judged fusion of harsh reality and spiritual odyssey of African empowerment is an intoxicating, emotionally devastating experience that grows in power as the initially timid Seydou increasingly comes to shoulder his fateful burden.

There will be Open Captioned screenings on Friday 5th at 13.10 and Wednesday 10th at 18.10.

Notes by David O’Mahony