Solo, de wet van de favela

“Rio, Summer 1994. While Brazil is all excited about the World Cup matches taking place in the United States, eleven-year old Leonardo and Anselmo, members of a small local team, are training in the streets of their favela, dreaming of one day becoming pros, of wearing real football shirts and joining a real club, the only way of escaping the omnipresent violence and crime. When a talent scout from the Fluminense club turns up, they think their dream is going to come true. But it is very difficult to clinch a contract with a top club, all the more so for Anselmo when he forgets to bring his boots to the match where his skills are to be put to the test. After the match, Leonardo is faced with a choice : continuing to play with his mate in the favela or joining the big club alone and being able to earn enough to keep his mother. Does he really have the choice, or is he not simply subjected to the “law of the favela”, which somehow exerts its influence over all the street kids ?” (Jos de Putter)