Aluízio Li is a martial arts fan who lives with his head in the world of fights from dreaming and watching Chinese films. He believes he is a Shaolin monk, dressing and behaving just like his cinematic references. However, he is the subject of mocking jokes in his hometown, Quixadá, in the backlands of Ceará. His days of peace will end when retired MMA fighter Toni Tora Pleura announces a "tour" of challenges to bullies in several cities in the interior of Ceará, including Quixadá.

O Shaolin do Sertão

New York City attracts Jane and Carlos, like so many others, with the promise of a better life. That's why they've left their home country, Brazil. Yet as immigrants, they don't have all the opportunities that the American dream implies. Their search for a new and better life represents that of all the immigrants who dare to attempt a fresh start in another country. It is also the story of changes taking place in United States and Brazil. The fictional story about Jane and Carlos in this experimental film is intertwined with the personal experiences of the film team, which reports in interspersed episodes about their own immigration and that of others they've researched.