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Crossing the Andes, Ep. 02 - The Skyscraper of Santiago

Crossing the Andes, Ep. 02 - The Skyscraper of Santiago

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In the Chilean capital of Santiago, Stef Biemans visits South America’s highest skyscraper. It was once built as a symbol of progress, but now the tower represents the dark side to that success story: record depression and suicide rates.

The highest tower in South America rises out of the Santiago smog. It’s the symbol of the strong neoliberal economic system. The pride of Chile. But almost every month, someone jumps off it. Nowhere else are depression rates as high as in this country of remarkable economic prosperity. In and around this skyscraper, Stef tries to find out where it all went wrong. What are the prerequisites for success and how do you survive in the smog of neoliberalism? And what does make young Chileans happy? Looking for enlightenment of the soul through music, religion, laughter therapy and a Freudian bench.

Series Description

The Andes – in all their diversity – are the spine of South America. We traverse six countries, focusing on work, economy, health, and migration, to find out how South America is doing and which changes are taking place in the continent some call an investors paradise, while others say is still a mess…

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