Soccer field

A soccer pitch emerges based on a process standardized down to the last detail. Layers of sand and soil are piled up and leveled, pieces of turf are rolled out and cut to size. Nothing is left to chance. Only when nature has been cast into shape can the game begin.

Some call them stadiums, or arenas, or pitches. We call them shrines. Come take a pilgrimage to some of the most famous soccer stadiums in the world as seen through the eyes of their devoted worshipers: the fans.

Short silent film.

Futebóis dives into three different worlds of soccer, showcasing distinct yet powerful realities of how soccer serves as a major tool for social development. In the Quilombo in the backlands of Pernambuco, in the outskirts of Santo André, or in the amateur fields of São Paulo, soccer never stops. Futebóis offers a socio-political perspective on the diverse connections that soccer inspires in Brazil. Neither the muddy fields, the cracked asphalt, nor the socio-economic hardships have been able to prevent or discourage the practice of this sport. It was never just about soccer.

A look at the soccer park player

In Rio de Janeiro, close to the mythical Maracana stadium, venue for the grand final of the World Cup 2014, we find an ordinary football field in the Sampaio neighborhood. There, football happens as a genuine expression of Brazilian culture. With the games on Sundays, the annual slum football league has 14 teams. Each represents the colors and rituals of their community. Geração x Juventude contest the final.

They eat, breathe and live soccer. In a place overflowing with testosterone, soccer dreams and fantasies easily come true. Under the shower, in the gym or with professional players -- those students sure know how to make the most of their training! Includes daddy-son initiation.