Urban Change – Projetos Urbanos

São Paulo 1943

Promotional documentary of São Paulo, made in the United States in 1943.

The short film describes the ‘fastest growing city on earth’ as a booming industrial center with cultural, ethnic and historical variety. In these days, the Paulista wanted everything ‘faster, better and more’, while Brazil under Vargas was being characterized as ‘orderly and progressive’.

As matter of fact, the city that is currently serving as an example for urban inequality, segregation, informality and decadence, seems pretty tidy and fair in the nineteen forties. Or perhaps this film is, as one would say in Brazil, ‘até bom demais’ (too good to be true).

Eric and Mario, thanks for the tip.