In recent years the 'Age'-old spectacle of bullfighting, what some have called the beautiful ballet of death has been condemned by animal rights activists but that has not stop add young group of Portugese women determined to take on the powerful beast. David O’Shea reports, that in Portugal this last male bastion is well and truly under threat.

 

REPORTER:  David O’Shea

 

Portugese bull fighting is similar to the more famous Spanish version but has a few key differences. Here horses play a central role and the bull is not killed by a Matt door in the final gory act. Instead a team of men enter the ring and subdue the animal with their bare hands. They are called the 'Forcados'. The bullfighting world is steeped in tradition and it is held out as a male bastion, but now women are breaking through.

 

Expert horse woman Ana Batista is at the peak of her career as a 'Cavaleira'. She has been an inspiration for a group of young women and girls who are now training for the bullring. On a misty morning at a cattle stud an hours drive from the capital, Lisbon. Portugal's only female 'Cavaleira' group are getting ready for practice here.

 

SUSANA FRIEZA (Translation):  It has to be tighter, squeezed like a lemon. We are now putting on the sash that will protect our organs. So when the blow comes, it will be less of an impact on the body.

 

17-year-old Susana Frieza is the leader and it is her motivation and drive that binds the group together.

 

GIRL (Translation):  She always transmits this to us…..her trust in us, never leaves us alone, never turns her back on us, she is always there for us, yeah.

 

For ‘Forcados” Trust is essential. They must be able to rely on each other and work as a team. There are a couple of new girls today and they are hearing Susana’s stories of what can go wrong for the first time.

 

SUSANA FRIEZA (Translation):  When I caught the cow’s tail, I tripped over, who knows where and my arm ended up going up the cow’s arse. And I said “nice one!”

 

The female 'Forcados' do not train with big bulls like the men but with much smaller cows but even so they are pretty feisty animals. This is a wild European breed used only for bullfighting. The first thing to work out is the order of the line-up. Eight are needed to make in a 'Forcados' team so today, a couple of friends from the male group join them.

 

SUSANA FRIEZA (Translation):  So, let me see this…one of you in there….. are you willing to go in there?

 

REPORTER (Translation):  Are you afraid?

 

GIRL (Translation):  Yes, it’s the first time.

 

REPORTER (Translation):  Frightened of what?

 

GIRL (Translation):  Of that thing!

 

At only 13 years old, Jessica is the youngest and newest member of the group. When she sees how much energy the cow has she reconsiders.

 

JESSICA (Translation):  I’m still not going out, I’m a bit afraid.

 

With Susana Frieza at the front they take their positions but there is not much time to think before the cow charges. In the stand, Susana’s mother dismisses the danger that her daughter faces.

 

MOTHER (Translation):  We’re in danger everywhere, I think so. Human beings are in danger everywhere.

 

Some of them have already ended up in hospital. Susana Frieza broke her nose once and there have been broken teeth, sprains and fractures. Their home videos even show one girl knocked unconscious. The oldest 'Forcados' association in the country, all male, is preparing to enter the main bull ring in the capital, Lisbon.

 

BULLFIGHTER (Translation):  I don’t want girls, I don’t like girls, girls are not for this, for other things.

 

BULLFIGHTER 2:   They do it just for fun because it is not a tradition and it is not healthy for them. The tradition says that it is made for men not for women.

 

Unlike the professional hors men the 'Cavaleira' who begin the show the 'Forcados' are from amateur associations. If they don't succeed the first time, they must do it again. Outside the bullring animal rights activists are appalled that Susana has chosen this for a hobby.

 

RITA SILVA, ANIMAL RIGHTS:   I feel sad that this girl should cover the world at 17 years old is so narrow-minded that she will go on and decide to be one of the people that brutalise defenceless animals.

 

SUSANA FRIEZA (Translation):  I respect her opinion, the time they spend to “boycott” bullfights. Why don’t they go to chicken farms, or lock the gates of slaughterhouses to keep out the workers?  I have formed my opinion and this is how I think. They think their way and I think mine, I respect them and I hope they respect me too. 

 

The girls want to be taken seriously and are sick of being told their bodies are not made for this.

 

SUSANA FRIEZA (Translation):  They frequently use the argument of our breasts, that the cow will hit our breast, the most sensitive part of a woman’s body. But the boys have testicles and it ends up being worse because that is where they always hit. Yeah.

 

WOMAN (Translation):  It’s still the prejudice against women, not being at the man’s level, basically. Of course, maybe we are not as strong as them.

 

Even at this training session there are injuries.  Susana's brother is part of the local male 'Forcados' group. He is the one who got his sister interested in the first place. I ask him what skills he thinks the girls need to work on. At the end of the session they regroup to review their moves. Later out of their bullfighting clothe they head the bullfighting ring to see their idol Ana Batista but for now these young women can only dream achieving that level of success. 

 

 

Reporter/Camera

DAVID O’SHEA

 

Producer

ASHLEY SMITH

 

Fixer

ALISON ROBERTS

 

Editors

MICAH MCGOWN

WAYNE LOVE

 

Translation/Subtitling

BEATRIZ WAGNER

 

Original Music composed by VICKI HANSEN