On the isolated Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha, men perform a very particular ritual. They play football together, and then they cry together. The crying may be invoked by a memory or a song or a passing, but the lachrymose response is genuine and, what’s more, collective.
“The film is a hybrid between documentary and fiction,” explains doc feature debutant Helena de Castro. “The weekly football match is a cultural institution in Brazil. So we use the game as a metaphor and together with our characters creative a fable that portrays one day from sunrise to sunset.”
“In that space, through their interactions, we learn about their conflicts, like the passing of time and how money and tourism are rapidly changing the pace of life in paradise,” de Castro continues. “Throughout the film, we hear tales narrated by our five main characters, and recreated in animation that tell the very particular lore of this group, stories from the island’s past, how the ritual of the crying started, the importance of the group in their lives – or how Ed Nielsen’s uncle was swallowed whole by a giant fish. The film is about friendship, solidarity, and how we are gregarious beings.”
The 70-minute film is slated for a 2025 release.
At FIFDH the production team outlined their impact goals:
- Encourage new examples of caring masculinity using the outreach of football culture.
- Promote positive dialogue on social gender norms, challenging traditional masculinity models and engaging men from non-urban and underprivileged backgrounds in discussions to foster change.
- Enable more men to freely express their emotions, to be vulnerable and encourage other men to do the same, and to impact interpersonal relationships today, also in view of raising the next generation.
- Team up with existing organisations and support groups, offering the film as a tool to work with men and boys on issues such as violence or mental health.
Producer Roberta Sauerbronn of Saraguina Filmes told how, “men are often shown as tough and aggressive. With our film we want to change that by telling a story that focuses on being open about feelings. We want to show that there are different and better ways for men to be.”
“Our production has been secured with funds from the Brazilian Ministry of Culture and shooting is beginning three weeks from now,” she added.
Impact producer Rodrigo Díaz Díaz of Taturana, the company that will distribute the film In Brazil, reminded the Geneva audience of the global popularity of the game, and hence the film’s potential as a vehicle for impact.
“FIFA has more countries affiliated than the United Nations. And in Brazil we have about 13,000 professional players, and about 1200 official teams. Of course, football is a component of our Brazilian identity and is therefore a stepping stone to manhood,” he said.
Unfortunately, these days not all Brazilian footballers are the best role models, he added, which is why this film is emphasising the grass roots appeal of the beautiful game.
“Our popular football that takes places in neighbourhoods, like on beaches, in [bare] fields, barefoot on the streets, this is much more related with our story,” Díaz underlined.
“And this is the path to go with the film. To reach every man from different backgrounds we have to change this violent reality and inspire less violent relationships in society. So we are here looking for financial and technical support to make mobile cinemas and to show the film in every field and in every school. And we are offering also the film to be a tool for every organization who wants to be a part and work with this subject. So we invite you, every individual and organization, to team up with us and make this go together,” he said, before the final whistle went.
