Crossing the Andes, Ep. 04 - Eternal Life
(Vida eterna)
Stef Biemans | Documentary, Series
2018 | 25 minutes | The Netherlands
The Vilcabamba valley in Ecuador is known for its healthy old people. Stef Biemans visits the valley of eternal life and investigates its nature.
Synopsis
In Ecuador, Stef Biemans visits the valley of eternal life and investigates its finite nature. What do spry centenarians in Ecuador right below the equator do in order to stay healthy? What provisions are there for them should they fall ill? And how do South Americans deal with their elderly?
The Vilcabamba valley in Ecuador is known for its healthy old people. The fit old man who interrupts his work in the field to firmly shake Stef Biemans’ hand shows an official proof of identity with a 1913 birthdate. A little bit later, he lets his hips do the talking when he dances.
Other old people in the valley also dance, in groups. Which doesn’t mean they’re all happy as can be. An 89-year-old woman says she’d like for it to be over. But: ‘God is keeping me alive. I’m waiting for my time to come.’ A voluntary ending to this earthly life is so unthinkable, Biemans is afraid to even broach the subject. Man proposes, God disposes. Or, for many South Americans: God and his native helpers.
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…
Citation
Main credits
Biemans, Stef (film director)
Biemans, Stef (narrator)
Citation
Cataloging
Pragda subjects
Communication + Journalism
Family
Geography
Health + Aging
Latin American Studies
Sociology
South America
Keywords
Clips
DIRECTOR: Stef Biemans
NATIONALITY: The Netherlands
YEAR: 2018
GENRE: Documentary, Series
LANGUAGE: Spanish; English
COLOR / B&W: Color
GRADE LEVEL: Middle School, High School, College, Adults
SUBTITLE/CC: AVAILABLE
AUDIO DESCRIPTION: NOT AVAILABLE
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