The docuseries “Ellas en la ciudad,” directed by Reyes Gallegos and premiered on Movistar Plus+, delves into the crucial role of women in the creation of sustainable and feminist cities. Through five testimonies from women who lived in peripheral neighborhoods of Seville in the 1970s, the production highlights their influence on urban transformation, and does so from a perspective that challenges traditional approaches to urban planning, which often overlook the needs of local communities and, in particular, those of women.
A docuseries with a very particular and interesting approach
In a context marked by institutional abandonment and gentrification, the series presents a narrative that does not seek victimhood, but rather highlights how these women forged communities and organized assemblies to improve their living environment through everyday actions. Without an official political discourse, these neighbors demanded basic improvements such as health centers and schools for their children, thus marking the power of collective action at a time when the periphery of Seville was a poorly resolved urban experiment.
They in the city is not limited to documenting past events, but raises questions about possible futures, linking the past struggles of these women with contemporary issues that still affect working-class neighborhoods. The docuseries proposes a parallel between the achievements of the past and the current demands in the face of realities such as precariousness and marginalization, inviting reflection on the type of city we want to build today.
With honesty and clarity, the series manages to capture the spirit of transformation from the everyday, becoming a moving and meaningful narrative that resonates not only in Seville but in cities around the world, where the voices of marginalized people often remain silenced in the dominant urban discourse.
