5th edition · Children Rights

The Boy, the Recruit and the Sergeant

Director: Daniel Chagas Martins · Country: Brazil · Year: 2025 · Runtime: 16 min · Language: Portuguese

Amidst the euphoria of the 1950 World Cup final, three Brazilians experience, each in their own way, the moment an entire nation stood still: a young boy collecting stickers, a recruit at his first post, and a veteran sergeant carrying the rigidity of his uniform and the weight of the past. Exactly 75 years after the "Maracanazo"—the defeat that shattered the national psyche—The Boy, the Recruit, and the Sergeant revisits this milestone not from the bleachers, but from the sidelines. Through the radio and the power of silence, the film portrays the impact of loss within the intimacy of characters who gradually reveal their true identities. Rich in period detail, this short film uses the historic match to tell a profoundly human story. Without leaving their homes or posts, the characters follow every play with hope and tension, creating a poignant portrait of a country that learns to keep believing, even in the face of heartbreak.

Public record generated only from an approved festival publication projection.