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Nordstadt under the microscope: ZDF documentary reveals dark sides!
The ZDF documentary “Dortmund Nordstadt – Deep in the West” highlights clichés and problems in the northern city. Available in the media library.
Nordstadt under the microscope: ZDF documentary reveals dark sides!
The documentary “Dortmund Nordstadt – Deep in the West” has been available in the ZDF media library since November 6, 2025. This 30-minute report, which was broadcast on November 8th, takes a look at the northern part of Dortmund and deals intensively with the clichés surrounding dirt, crime and drugs that prevail there. While the documentary promises to provide a realistic insight, it has been criticized for both its content and its presentation. Ruhr24 reports, that the report shows migrant youth gangs who draw attention to themselves with YouTube videos, while at the same time impressive images of garbage and police operations in the northern part of the city can be seen.
The northern part of the city has to contend with particularly high problems compared to other Dortmund districts. In the film, a German butcher expresses himself critically about his neighborhood and the challenges that the environment brings with it. Particularly frightening are the reports from a Bulgarian supermarket owner who repeatedly reports thefts and attributes them to Romanian people. Another central topic is the young people themselves, who often come from migrant families and try to create a perspective for themselves with music videos and similar projects.
Criticism and reception of the documentary
Despite the impressive subject matter, the documentary is criticized for being too superficial. Many viewers find the message to be less than new and the presentation of the problems to be one-sided. It seems as if the documentary cannot fully capture the complex problems of the northern city.
There is no deeper look at the culture of the northern city and possible solutions. In addition to the challenges of the district, examples of success and positive voices would also have been welcome to make the picture more diverse. The perception of the northern city could only benefit from such a differentiated view.
Cultural events in the region
Reporting and documentary formats are important to shed light on the issues. But it is just as relevant to give space to the positive initiatives and creative expressions of the people in these districts. In a city like Dortmund, where many different worlds meet, there remains a desire for a more balanced representation. In this way, the northern city could be given a new light, one that does justice to the people and their stories.