The Ball Série-Collection : Steps for the future

Orlando Mesquita
2001 - 6 min - Beta numérique & Beta SP & 35 mm - Couleur - Mozambique

In Mozambique, 20 million condoms are distributed annually. That breaks down – using an estimated number of four million sexually active men – to exactly five condoms per year per man. In addition is the fact, as Orlando Mesquita shows in his witty short film "The Ball", that many of the contraceptives are used for unintended purposes.
The starting whistle blows. On a somewhat uneven and sparsely grown lawn, the children meet for the soccer game. With quick editing, gentle music, and slow-motion scenes, Mesquita stages the pleasurable event. But soon an adult approaches and grabs one of the players by the ear : "You stole my condoms !" he yells, and snatches away the ball.
What now ? Completely uninhibited, the children go to the dealer around the corner, buy a few condoms, and inflate them. From the garden of one of their grandmothers, they steal a knitted sweater, take it apart, and wind the wool threads around the inflated condom. The new football is ready, and the game can continue. In "The Ball", Orlando Mesquita handles a rather serious topic in a humorous way, and with playful ease. Elias Schafroth – translation : Douglas Heingartner