Story
Born in the Netherlands, Repair Cafés bring volunteers together to fix household items, clothing, and bicycles for free. But their mission goes beyond simple repairs.
They bring memories back to life, strengthen communities by welcoming newcomers, and inspire us to cherish what we already own, resisting the tide of consumerism.
Who comes to Repair Cafés? What stories are shared? This is the story of people fixing more than just broken things.
Nominated for the Amsterdam Buurt Film Festival (ABFF 2025)
Introduction
Do you have broken items gathering dust at home?
Think of a frayed sweater, a cracked tablet, or an old toy you once loved as a child. Each item has its own story to tell. But in our consumerist society, it often feels natural to toss something out and buy something new. Repairing can be more expensive or simply not accessible.
That’s why there’s a place where local volunteers repair broken devices, clothing, bikes, and much more — for free: the Repair Cafe.
IDEAS FOR GOOD created its first short documentary about this movement, which began in Amsterdam. The film follows a Repair Cafe in their day-to-day work and shows how repair connects people and their stories — offering a new perspective on our belongings and a richer, more meaningful life.
In July 2024, a new EU directive came into effect that requires manufacturers to offer repair services for TVs, vacuum cleaners, phones, and eight other product categories — up to 10 years after purchase. As well as Asia, the Japanese cabinet decision was also made in July 2024 to promote a circular economy, positioning repair as a key tool for regional revitalisation and lifestyle change.
Now that our planet is nearing its ‘planetary boundaries’, it’s time to rethink our approach: How can repair and reuse help build a richer, more sustainable society?
Review
“A story of regeneration—of both objects and people. It feels like ‘life being reborn.’”
Yasuhiro Kobayashi, Ecological Memes
“This film challenges you to rethink: What is true happiness?”
Sachiyo Kojima, Rinne.bar CEO
“For anyone struggling with relationships, this film offers something meaningful.”
Kazuo Yabuhara, Uguisudani Honey Lab
“A film that lets you truly feel and connect with ‘sustainability’ and ‘circular economy,’ without even mentioning the words.”
Yurie Kibi, Author of “Purpose model”
“Inspiring and thought-provoking. A vivid example of how people and objects are linked in a circular system.”
Professor Shigeki Aoki, Komazawa University
Sachiyo Kojima, Rinne.bar CEO
Kazuo Yabuhara, Uguisudani Honey Lab
Yurie Kibi, Author of “Purpose model”
Professor Shigeki Aoki, Komazawa University
Director’s message
My first encounter with a Repair Cafe was during a trip to the Netherlands in autumn 2022. I saw an elderly man in a wheelchair bring an old wall clock, and as I watched the repairer examine it, I realized: perhaps what they were truly repairing were not just objects, but memories.
A year later, after moving to Amsterdam, I began filming at Repair Cafes. I soon noticed they were not only repairing “memories,” but also “communities” in cities struggling with loneliness, and even the structure of society itself, built on endless consumption and competition. This film attempts to capture the diverse values born from the practice of repair.
While producing the film, I too was inspired by the Repair Cafe to fix my broken smartphone and watch. Repair requires creativity. Through repair, a “three-year-old outdated phone” became “a cherished phone I repaired myself.” Many of the people I met at Repair Cafes have since become close friends.
I hope this film inspires you to see your belongings differently and to remember the people connected to them with greater appreciation.
Masato Sezawa, Creative Director at IDEAS FOR GOOD (based in Amsterdam), directed, filmed, edited, and translated the documentary.
He studied at the University of Amsterdam, has worked in Denmark and for NGOs, and focuses primarily on video production. Masato has a rare gift for capturing the emotional essence of a topic, inviting viewers into the stories he tells in an intimate and compelling way.
His documentary The Repair Cafe is nominated for the Amsterdam Buurt Film Festival 2025, and he coordinated the Japanese segment of Danish documentary film Life and Other Problems (2024), the Opening Gala film at CPH:DOX 2024.
Amsterdam Buurt Film Festival (ABFF2025) Nomination
In December 2024, this documentary was nominated for screening at the 9th Amsterdam Buurt Film Festival (ABFF2025).
The screening is scheduled to take place on February 9, 2025, at the Amsterdam Central Public Library(OBA).
Media Coverage
- Business Insider Japan (in Japanese)
- Japanese Public Broadcaster, NHK World, “The repair renaissance: how fixing made a global comeback” (broadcast in over 160 countries and to 3 million YouTube subscribers).
- The largest financial newspaper in Japan, Nikkei (The parent company of Financial Times, with over 1 million subscribers).
Join us!
Would you like to inspire your organisation to think more circularly, to embrace repair and reuse? Then consider showing “The Repair Cafe,” a short and inspiring documentary that reveals how broken items can be given new life and how this process connects people.
The film offers a warm, hopeful view of the circular economy in action, featuring real stories and tangible examples. After the screening, it’s possible to invite director Masato Sezawa for a live, interactive talk moderated by our team. In this follow-up session, Masato dives deeper into the stories behind the film, the impact of the Repair Cafe movement, and how this mindset can be applied in your own organisation or municipality. He also reflects on cultural differences between the Netherlands and Japan, and what both countries can learn from each other.
Possible uses for screenings
- Municipalities working on circular policies or community inspiration
- Organizations aiming to inspire their employees
- Events focused on sustainability, innovation, or community building
- Educational institutions and cultural centers
Plans available
- Screening only
- Screening + Director talk + Q&A + Moderator
- Screening + Director talk + Q&A + Moderator + Panel discussion
* Each plan is available as a non-profit option for NPOs and a commercial option for companies. Please click the button below to visit the website of Van Loof (our distributor) and make an inquiry.
Event Report
Partner
Support: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Directed, Filmed, and Edited by Masato Sezawa
Presented by IDEAS FOR GOOD, In Collaboration with Repair Cafe International.
Cinematography Support by Koyo Tatsunokuchi, Creative Advisory by Masaki Hirose, Translation Support by Arika Yoshino, Amita Janssen
2024 / Netherlands / 30 min / Colour / Subtitles English, Dutch, Japanese
