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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 £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 

  • Sérgio Mendes & Brasil ’66

    Bim Bom 

  • Gotan Project

    °Õ°ù¾±±è³Ù¾±³¦´ÇÌý

  • Max Richter

    From 553 W Elm Street, Logan Illinois (Snow) 

  • Lamb

    Transfatty Acid (Kruger & Dorfmeister Mix) 

    Remix Artist: Kruder & Dorfmeister.
  • Bonobo

    ±·´Ç³¦³Ù³Ü²¹°ù²âÌý

  • Jay Dee

    Rico Suave Bossa Nova 

  • Tony Crombie

    Autumn Leaves (Live) 

  • The Cinematic Orchestra

    Channel 1 Suite 

  • °Õ°ù±ð²Ô³Ù±ð³¾Ã¸±ô±ô±ð°ù

    Like Two Strangers 

  • Jay Dee

    Rico Suave Bossa Nova 

  • Mogwai

    You Don't Know Jesus 

  • Lalo Schifrin

    Chega De Saudade 

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.