Brazil: a Nation in Football Boots
Brazil, and its love of I football, is examined in the first of a new four-part series looking at the nature of a society through its sporting obsession.
In Brazil football is both a balm and a mask for political problems. As a young man says: "The country is no good, but we still support it. Because when
Brazil are playing, I forget about her problems. I just watch the games on TV, and forget about the corruption, the killing of street kids." Former star
Socrates, a doctor, insists that "there'sone thing we'll never lose. The talent for football."
Poverty and corruption remain the country's biggest problems. A prison football coach points out that "in jail we never see anyone who has any money," " while current player
Romario warns that many young players cannot get to the clubs for lack of the bus fare.
Director Roberto Mader ; Producer Grant Keir A Faction Films production for BBCtv