Megalopolis Series 1

1  New York

Over half of the world's population now live in cities. But what force drives these gigantic conurbations? What are the current trends and the paradoxes that define their character? These are the questions at the core of Alexandra Leroux's quest and in what better place to begin than New York. Her unorthodox look at the Big Apple, and what she reveals of the urban lifestyles of its citizens, allow us to see this unique city from the inside - exhilarating on a daily basis, but perhaps not always so easy to live in.
Duration: 60'

 

2  Mumbai

Join Alexandra Leroux as she heads to Mumbai to witness the vibrant life of the 'Maximum City' as its day progresses. On her journey she follows lunch couriers, laundry workers stirring at the crack of dawn and the call-centre workers who spend their nights on the telephone. From affluent suburbs to shanty towns, from working class tower blocks to fashionable galleries, Alexandra shows us the different faces of Mumbai.
Duration: 60'

 

3  Cairo

As soon as she sets foot in this ancient metropolis Alexandra Leroux finds herself in the grip of its characteristic frenzy. She makes her way through very different quarters of the capital, revealing new and new aspects of modern Cairo as she travels by taxi, tramway, boat, a three-wheeler from India and even a Harley Davidson. She passes through the City of the Dead, a graveyard where families have set up their homes, she follows a postman on his round, while on the banks of the Nile she meets a strange Mameluk prince and discovers a little haven of greenery in the middle of the metropolis.
Duration: 60'

 

4  Moscow

Moscow, the shop-window of modern Russia and Europe's only real megalopolis is Alexandra Leroux's destination. She dives into the heart of the Muscovite agglomeration seeking the answer to a question: sixteen years after the fall of the Communist regime what is the new face of Moscow and what is life like there for its 10 million inhabitants? She soon discovers an immense, captivating city ripped open by colossal construction sites, teeming with activity. The new realm of capitalism, Moscow surprises and fascinates, deflecting conventional stereotypes. As she goes deeper into the city, Alexandra ventures into the underground palaces of one of the world's most beautiful metros, enters the vertiginous towers of the future Moscow City district, broadcasts on one of the country's last independent radio stations and finds herself behind the scenes with Moscow's gilded youth.
Duration: 60'

 

5  Buenos Aires

It's the austral summer in Argentina and this most European of South American capitals, Buenos Aires, is changing its rhythms and gearing up for the new season. Many Porteños, as the city's inhabitants are called, are away on holiday, which means that Alexandra is exploring a less noisy, less polluted and more festive megalopolis. Amongst the carnival rhythms the voices of the Mothers of May still resound, as do the sensual chords of the tango and the protests of an underground theatre group.
Duration: 60'

 

6  Tokyo

Welcome to the biggest agglomeration in the world! Tokyo boasts 35 million inhabitants, so effectively one in four Japanese live there. It is also the world's richest city with a GNP equal to that of Canada. Throughout her 24-hour trip Alexandra has breakfast with Sumos, visits the showroom of a very futuristic mobile phone company, goes walkies with a 'hire' dog to experience a '2001 Space Odyssey' oxygen hit and takes part in an aura-reading session.
Duration: 60'