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Copacabana Palace

As Brazil prepares to host the World Cup, Copacabana Palace follows the lives of the staff and guests at one of Latin America's most iconic hotels.

As Brazil prepares to host the World Cup, Copacabana Palace follows the lives of the staff and guests at one of Latin America's most iconic hotels.

Brazil now boasts more billionaires than Britain, and the Copacabana Palace is a magnet for Brazil's new wealthy elite. In its 90-year history, the hotel has played host to everyone from Orson Welles to Justin Bieber and the king of Sweden.

Today, manager Andrea Natal heads a staff of 600, who cater for the rich and famous guests' every whim. But luxury doesn't come cheap; the starting price for a night at the Copacabana Palace is 拢400 and the price for their VIP suites isn't even made public. But in a country where one in five people still live below the poverty line, the reality for many of the hotel's staff is very different.

This documentary for This World reveals how the hotel's story reflects the fortunes of the entire nation and how Brazil is increasingly a country of extraordinary extremes.

59 minutes

Music Played

  • The Cinematic Orchestra

    Channel 1 Suite聽

  • S茅rgio Mendes & Brasil 鈥�66

    Bim Bom聽

  • Gotan Project

    罢谤颈辫迟颈肠辞听

  • Max Richter

    From 553 W Elm Street, Logan Illinois (Snow)聽

  • Lamb

    Transfatty Acid (Kruger & Dorfmeister Mix)聽

    Remix Artist: Kruder & Dorfmeister.
  • Bonobo

    狈辞肠迟耻补谤测听

  • Jay Dee

    Rico Suave Bossa Nova聽

  • Tony Crombie

    Autumn Leaves (Live)聽

  • The Cinematic Orchestra

    Channel 1 Suite聽

  • 罢谤别苍迟别尘酶濒濒别谤

    Like Two Strangers聽

  • Jay Dee

    Rico Suave Bossa Nova聽

  • Mogwai

    You Don't Know Jesus聽

  • Lalo Schifrin

    Chega De Saudade聽

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator David Morrissey
Series Producer Sarah Waldron
Executive Producer Sam Bagnall

Broadcasts

Making This World

This World film-makers tell their behind the scenes stories about making the programme.