Nishinari-ku
Directed by Julia Herrmann Herrero
Spain · 2025 · 6 min · Archive footage; Culture; Inequalities; Low budget; Poverty; Smart Devices; Social issues;
Submitted to RTV International Film Festival 2026Synopsis
After visiting Nishinari-ku in Osaka, I felt compelled to create a documentary about it. Despite its visible poverty, the area revealed a quiet beauty, calm and nostalgic.
About the film
After visiting Nishinari-ku in Osaka, I knew I needed to create a documentary about it. Upon arriving, I found myself surrounded by poverty, something I had not expected, due to my lack of research before entering the country. Despite this, the place quickly became one of my favourites. Nishinari-ku is calm and nostalgic, with a slow, almost suspended rhythm. It reminded me of dried flowers: at first glance, they may seem unattractive or too old to serve as decoration, yet they still hold value and can remain deeply beautiful. This is why Ikebana became so important to this documentary. Through it, dried plants are given the opportunity to shine once more, while also revealing that every branch, like every life, has its own purpose and meaning.
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RTV International Film Festival — Inaugural Online Edition · 2026