"In this instalment from Avintes in Portugal, he captures a group of teenagers playing a game known as pau de sebo - which loosely translates as 'greasy pole' - in which, rather appropriately, participants attempt to climb a grease-coated wooden pole to claim prizes hanging from its peak. On this occasion, salted cod, a teddy bear and small guitars hang from a ring at the apex,"
"lingering frustratingly out of reach for most of the players until they eventually collaborate and strategise to overcome their shared adversaries: slipperiness and gravity. Shot in an observational style, the scene is playfully exhilarating while also gesturing towards something quietly profound about how play and learning can inform one another."
A Children's Games series documents diverse games children play across the globe. In Avintes, Portugal, teenagers play pau de sebo (greasy pole), attempting to climb a grease-coated wooden pole to claim prizes suspended at the top. Prizes include salted cod, a teddy bear and small guitars. Players struggle with slipperiness and gravity, then collaborate and strategise to overcome the challenge. The scene is shot in an observational style that is playfully exhilarating. The sequence gestures toward how play and learning can inform one another. Directors: Francis Alÿs, Rafael Ortega. Editor: Julien Devaux. Sound designer: Félix Blume.
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