Cosmopolis

Cosmopolis as a world in itself. In this case, Cosmopolis refers to the dynamic, renewing, ever growing Brasillian city of Sao Paulo. The film gives the viewer the opportunity to really experience this phenomenal and huge metropolitan. Impressive imagery is combined with stories told by a few of the approximately 18 million inhabitants. These citydwellers are called Paulistanos and appear to be as multicultural and adaptive as the city itself.

Social Interest

Due to the multiple waves of immigrants over the past 150 years, Sao Paulo has become the biggest city in Brazil and one of the biggest cities in Latin America. Moreover, Sao Paulo has the biggest ethnic diversity of all cities in Brazil. The largest ethnic groups are people from Italian descent, African descent and Portugese descent.

Historic Relevance

The economical growth in Brasil in the nineteenth century was mainly based on the export of coffee. In the end of the nineteenth century, due to the abolition of slavery in Brazil, the coffee plantations attracted immigrants looking for work from European countries, such as Italia and Portugal. The industrialisation, which took place in cities such as Sao Paulo, created urbanisation by the people initially working on coffee plantations. Also, industrialisation attracted other immigrants from countries as Japan and Libanon, and later on, people from different Asian countries and the northern parts of Brazil.

Scenes

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Massive population growth of Sao Paulo
The Brazillian city Sao Paulo is known as the city with the fastest population growth since the end of the 19th century. The effects of this massive growth are still visible in Sao Paulo’s everyday life.
Ethnic diversity in shops in Sao Paulo
The immigration to Sao Paulo, Brazil, since the 10th century has lead to great ethnic diverisity in this city. This clip shows three shopkeepers at work in their shops in the neighbourhood Bom Retiro. The shopkeepers are as ethnically diverse as their costumers.
The first immigrants of Sao Paulo
The economic and industrial growth of Sao Paulo resulted in a vast amount of immigrants, with different backgrounds, habits and languages. As is stated in this clip, immigration to another city and country can be very difficult.
Bolivian immigrants in Sao Paulo
A Bolivian woman tells about her immigration to Brazil and Sao Paulo. Especially when she first arrived it was very difficult for her because she didnt understand the language and she had nowhere to go. She states that, now more and more Bolivians come to live in Sao Paulo, the situation has changed a lot.
Immigration from North-East Brazil to Sao Paulo
A big amount of the immigrants of Sao Paulo comes from the poorer, North Eastern part of Brazil. A man living in Sao Paulo tells the story about his migration to the city and the difference between the North Eastern side of the country.
The growth of Sao Paulo: creation and destruction
In this clip, two Paulistanos make clear how the city Sao Paulo is growing and expanding by creating, destroying, innovating and changing. Sao Paulo is an everchanging scene where every building is destroyed to make room for another one.
The growth of Sao Paulo: changes
Because of the ongoing building and destruction in Sao Paulo there are always major changes in the city landscape. The city changes so rapidly that it is impossible to make a proper city map. Paulistanos say that nothing ever stays the same in Sao Paulo.
Korean immigrants in Sao Paulo
A girl living in Sao Paulo tries to explain her identity as both Brazillian and Paulistano as Korean. Her parents migrated from Korea to Sao Paulo and she was born in this city.
Singer of Japanese songs in Sao Paulo
The singer Roberto Casanova tells how he started as a singer in a Japanese Karaoke bar in Sao Paulo, Brazil. In this clip, we also see him perform in a bar while singing a Japanese song and attending a singing contest.
Sao Paulo as an inspiring, changing and ever growing city
In this clip, Paulistanos give their opinion on their city, Sao Paulo. They have a positive view on the growing, moving and diverse characteristics of the city. The clip furthermore exists of impressive views of Sao Paulo.