Starting a new life in the city - VPRO Metropolis documentary
31Theme: Century of the city. For the first time in history, more than half of the world's population lives in cities - often in slums - and the global migration to the city continues. What determines the quality of life in the city? And how do we keep the city liveable? We dive into urban life, look for new ideas and take stock. Does man make the city or does the city make the man?
Andala, Maria, Nick and Dong Bing live on four different continents, but they have one thing in common: they have decided to start a new life in the big city. For half a year, the four newcomers are followed by the Metropolis correspondents.
Every newcomer has his own dream: Sunday child Nick comes to New York to succeed as an actor on Broadway, Maria has fled the Colombian country to look for a safe place for her two children in the capital Bogotá. Every newcomer also has its own strategy. While Dong Bing is very picky when looking for work in Shanghai, Andala accepts every job that he can get in the Zambian capital Lusaka. Four newcomers: who will succeed, who will not? And how far do they have to go to be admitted to the new city?
Dong Bing (20) comes from Henan province and ilives with a former classmate. The first month he goes looking for work every day, but does not find what he is looking for. There is little attractive work due to the economic crisis and he eventually decides to return to his family.
Maria fled a group of paramilitaries in the Colombian interior to find a safe place for her two children in Bogotá. She is referred to a Red Cross reception center. As a displaced person she is entitled to an emergency package and assistance, but because she is not granted refugee status, she ultimately receives no state support. She ends up in prostitution in Giradot and has to travel back and forth to see her children.
Nick is from San Clemente, California, and wants to work as an actor on Broadway. He stays in a hotel and stays with friends. He is followed in search of an apartment and in an audition, but returns to his parents after eight weeks.
Andala (28) comes from a small village to the Zambian capital Lusaka. He sleeps a few nights at the bus station, but then shares a house with a friend in Kalikiliki, a poor suburb of Lusaka. He eventually finds work as a carpenter and in construction. He builds up a social life, becomes a member of the Pentecostal Church and meets a friend, Harriet. Eventually he decides to return to his village, where his former girlfriend is waiting for him. They are followed at their wedding in the village.
Originally broadcasted by VPRO in 2009.
© VPRO Backlight September 2009
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Credits:
Direction Bogotá: Alejandro Chaparro, Leo Rua Puerta
Direction Lusaka: Cleopatra Hamaambo
Direction Shanghai: Bas Roeterink
Direction New York: Kel O'Neal, Eline Jongsma
Composition: Eva de Breed
Production: Alex Klippel
Editor in chief: Stan van Engelen, Eddie Wölcken, George Brugmans
Presented by: Jin Cui (Shanghai)
English, French and Spanish subtitles: Ericsson.
French and Spanish subtitles are co-funded by European Union.