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.

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.