Year: 1994

Format: 16 mm

Runtime: 54 min

 

In the slums of Rio de Janeiro, the favelas, soccer might be the only chance to escape from the omnipresent atmosphere of violence and crime. Ten or eleven-year old boys who play soccer on the streets dream of a future as a professional soccer player, of a real shirt and a real club. 'Solo, the law of the favela', focuses on this dream of a number of boys against the background of the everyday life in the favela, at the time of the Soccer World Championships in the USA. Main characters are Leonardo and Anselmo, two eleven year old friends, who play soccer together in one of the clubs of the favelas. One day it looks their dreams come true. On that day Anselmo forgets his shoes and Leonardo has to make a choice.

 

1994: the World Cup is playing to an audience of billions, but Jos de Putter heads to the slums of Rio de Janeiro, to follow the children whose only dream, and only escape, is sport. Twelve-year-old best friends Leonardo and Anselmo hope to leave their reality of poverty and violence by playing soccer. When a scout for a professional club appears, their hopes seem answered, until only one is offered a contract. Solo is fascinating for its insights into the hope that sports offer to youth, and how it's taken away.

 

Awards: Joris Ivens Award IDFA 1994

 

Festivals: a.o. Rotterdam, IDFA, Paris, Sao Paulo, Nyon, Thessaloniki, München, Teheran, Sydney, Vancouver, Jerusalem, Bombay, New York, Washington, Berkeley, Chicago

 

Written & Directed by Jos de Putter

Director of photography: Brian Sewell

Edited by Puck Goossen

Sound recording: Mark van der Willigen

Sound design: Jack Bol

Produced by Ymke Kreiken / Jos de Putter

Producer Brazil: Bob Nadkarni; Jean Mentens

 

Copyright 1994 Dieptescherpte / VPRO