By Helena de Castro

Brotherhood of Weeping Men

Choródromo

On the Brazilian isolated island of Fernando de Noronha, 375km from the mainland, ANOVE is more than an association of amateur football players; it is a religion taken very seriously by all the associates. For over 30 years, they have been gathering every Saturday to play football, eat, drink and listen to classic romantic songs from the 60s and 70s. However, due to a tragic event, this group of friends has developed a ritual of shared crying that has become an essential part of their weekly meetings and their lives. Brotherhood of Weeping Men portrays one day in the gathering of this peculiar association, from sunrise to sunset. In between, stories narrated by our five main characters and recreated in animation transport us to the unique universe of these men living on this island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Section : Impact Days

Country : Brazil

Original language : Portuguese

Director

Helena de Castro (Brazil)

Producers

Roberta Sauerbronn (Brazil)
Saraguina Filmes
Cinema 226

Completion

November 2024

Impact Statement

Brotherhood of Weeping Men shows the unusual ritual that a group of ordinary men have developed to cope with loss. Football and the sharing of emotions are the powerful tools that bind them together. By portraying diverse expressions of masculinity within the football community, we aim to spark a profound reflection on how men of all generations – from seasoned Boomers to dynamic Gen Z players – can navigate their emotions and foster genuine care for one another. If we allow ourselves to cry because of football, then let's use football to unleash all the things we’d like to cry about but don't let out. Let's encourage new models of masculinity to emerge and inspire less violent relationships in society.

If we allow ourselves to cry because of football, then let's use football to unleash all the things we wish to cry about and don't let out.

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.

Impact Strategy

Have renowned Brazilian football players and personalities promote the film’s campaign and main messages about masculinity models.
Organise screenings in supporters clubs, schools and football academies, followed by conversations with invited specialists in masculinity and gender, and make the film available for self-organised screenings through the Taturana platform.
Develop with partner organisations a discussion guide and community screening kit with educational content.
Develop with educational practitioners a conversational process methodology to create intimacy in groups working with masculinity, using the example of the "crying ritual" as an inspiring image.
Develop a communication strategy around theatrical release to promote our main messages, including a website and partners’ social media channels.

Contact

Primary contact

Roberta Sauerbronn (Brazil): roberta@saraguina.com.br

Existing Partners

Organisations
Promundo
Reprolatina

Distributions and sales
Taturana

Others
Escolas De Futebol Meninos Da Vila – the Santos FC football academy (our production company has previously worked with Santos FC on Netflix and FIFA+ series)
MINC-Brazilian Ministry of Culture

Envisaged Partners

Organisations
Promundo
Reprolatina

Distributions and sales
Taturana