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Minamata

  • 2020
  • R
  • 1h 55m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
24K
YOUR RATING
Johnny Depp and Minami in Minamata (2020)
New York, 1971. Following his celebrated days as one of the most revered photojournalists of World War II, W. Eugene Smith (Johnny Depp) has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But a secret commission from Life magazine editor Robert Hayes (Bill Nighy) sends him to the Japanese coastal city of Minamata, which has been ravaged by mercury poisoning; the result of decades of gross industrial negligence by the country's Chisso Corporation.
 
There, Smith immerses himself in the community, documenting their efforts to live with Minamata Disease and their passionate campaign to achieve recognition from Chisso and the Japanese government. Armed with only his trusted camera, Smith's images from the toxic village give the disaster a heartbreaking human dimension, and his initial assignment turns into a life-changing experience.
Play trailer1:49
4 Videos
48 Photos
DocudramaDrama

War photographer W. Eugene Smith travels back to Japan where he documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities.War photographer W. Eugene Smith travels back to Japan where he documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities.War photographer W. Eugene Smith travels back to Japan where he documents the devastating effect of mercury poisoning in coastal communities.

  • Director
    • Andrew Levitas
  • Writers
    • David Kessler
    • Stephen Deuters
    • Andrew Levitas
  • Stars
    • Akiko Iwase
    • Kogarashi Wakasugi
    • Johnny Depp
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    24K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andrew Levitas
    • Writers
      • David Kessler
      • Stephen Deuters
      • Andrew Levitas
    • Stars
      • Akiko Iwase
      • Kogarashi Wakasugi
      • Johnny Depp
    • 195User reviews
    • 64Critic reviews
    • 55Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Videos4

    International Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    International Trailer
    Minamata
    Trailer 2:12
    Minamata
    Minamata
    Trailer 2:12
    Minamata
    Minamata
    Trailer 1:48
    Minamata
    Minamata - Official US Trailer
    Trailer 2:12
    Minamata - Official US Trailer

    Photos47

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    + 42
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    Top cast40

    Edit
    Akiko Iwase
    Akiko Iwase
    • Masako Matsumura
    Kogarashi Wakasugi
    • Akiko Matsumura
    Johnny Depp
    Johnny Depp
    • W. Eugene Smith
    Katherine Jenkins
    Katherine Jenkins
    • Millie
    Bill Nighy
    Bill Nighy
    • Robert Hayes
    Minami
    Minami
    • Aileen
    Hikaru Inagawa
    • Giichi Matsushima
    Sonata Molocajeviene
    • Jennifer
    Muneaki Kitsukawa
    • Tomoki Sakai
    Tadanobu Asano
    Tadanobu Asano
    • Tatsuo Matsumura
    Ryô Kase
    Ryô Kase
    • Kiyoshi
    • (as Ryo Kase)
    Hiroyuki Sanada
    Hiroyuki Sanada
    • Mitsuo Yamazaki
    Jun Kunimura
    Jun Kunimura
    • Junichi Nojima
    Yosuke Hosoi
    • Daiki
    Yuzu Aoki
    • Sigeru
    Lily Robinson
    Lily Robinson
    • Diandra
    Aiko Sakakura
    • Enforcer's Mother
    Masayoshi Haneda
    Masayoshi Haneda
    • Enforcer
    • Director
      • Andrew Levitas
    • Writers
      • David Kessler
      • Stephen Deuters
      • Andrew Levitas
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews195

    7.224.4K
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    Featured reviews

    8imseeg

    Warmhearted directed portrait of a community ravaged by chemical pollution.

    Slowburning, warmhearted, shocking portrait of the destruction of children's health by chemical pollution in Japan.

    The story: Johnny Depp plays his usual clusmy, comical self, this time around he plays an American alcoholic master photographer. Out of the blue comes a Japanese woman at his door who asks him for his help to expose the pollution crimes through his photography.

    Impressive movie, which starts out rather lighthearted and sometimes even kinda comical, only near the very end the drama hits full on, when we as an audience get to see the many disfigured, handicapped children, ruined for life by the chemical pollution of the river from which they ate the fish...

    Produced by Johnny Depp himself. Based on true events...

    Please have the patience to watch the final credits, because at the end many similar chemical pollution catastrophes are being shown from around the world, including Europe and the USA.
    8sushant0406

    Johnny Depp gives a great performance in this beautifully haunting movie

    Minamata is a must-watch for all cinema lovers to appreciate the cinematography, direction and the choice of background scores used, about the Minamata disease that caused havoc in the early 1970s.

    Johnny Depp, perhaps one of the greatest and most versatile actors of all time, turns in a powerful and sombre performance where he is able to emote mostly from his eyes. Once again, he goes right into the skin of the character in this case, the late Eugene Smith and is definitely worthy a performance to ATLEAST an Academy Award nomination. Bill Nighy is good in an extended cameo. Minami is very good in her role as well.

    To summarise, this movie is a must watch for Johnny Depp's excellent performance, his best since Black Mass, and the topic of mercury poising and the environmental damage by conglomerates, which I personally believe needs to receive more attention. This movie personofies art & cinema's true purpose.
    8Hazu29

    Beautiful Movie

    A Beautiful Movie that no one promotes, I wonder why. It's even sad that people, mainstream media and twitter blue checks don't talk about this movie. Great Performance by Depp and by most of the cast, even by the "real people". Touching story. And of course the photography of this film is outstanding, but that's predictable.
    8lenagumerova

    It touches your soul

    If you are looking for entertainment - skip this film.

    It will skin your soul alive. So touching, frustrating, making clear where the "small people"'place is. Great characters, great acting, great directing. Thanks for including Johnny Depp, in this cancel culture you never know. But once again he proves that his talent is way above all the gossip.
    7Thanos_Alfie

    Simply amazing...

    "Minamata" is a Drama movie in which we follow the photographer William Eugene Smith traveling to some coastal villages in Japan to capture with his camera the effect of mercury poisoning on people.

    I was simply amazed by this movie because it had an interesting plot that was based on real events and since I did not know about them I was shocked. The direction which was made by Andrew Levitas was very good and he presented very well the whole story behind mercury poisoning and he also did a good job on the way he used some old footage of that time. The interpretation of Johnny Depp who played as William Eugene Smith was simply outstanding. Some other interpretations that have to be mentioned were Minami's who played as Aileen, Hiroyuki Sanada's who played as Mitsuo Yamazaki and Jun Kunimura's who played as Junichi Nojima. In conclusion, I have to say that "Minamata" is an amazing movie and I highly recommend everyone to watch it because you will learn something about a huge environmental problem that affected many people and many families.

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    Related interests

    Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network (2010)
    Docudrama
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The city of Minamata, Kumamoto, declined to lend its name as a supporter to a local screening held in August 2021 organized by volunteers, prior to the nationwide release of the film in Japan in September 2021. The city told The Asahi Shimbun that it was uncertain whether the film depicted historical events accurately and was conducive to dispelling discrimination and prejudice against patients. Kumamoto Prefecture, on the other hand, supported the screening.
    • Goofs
      Johnny Depp sings Forever Young by Bob Dylan in the film in 1971. The song was written in 1973 and released in 1974.
    • Connections
      Featured in Radio Dolin: Why do need an Oscar, gray-bearded Johnny Depp, shaurma or shaverma (2021)

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Minamata?Powered by Alexa
    • What is the name of the new global environmental action by the United Nations?
    • Why has AIP not yet released this on DVD or any VOD medium? It is listed as released in Feb. (is that right?). It is an important film and needs widespread availability.
    • Why is there a release date of February 5, 2021 in USA but there hasn't been any actual release?? I really want to watch this movie!!

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 8, 2021 (United Arab Emirates)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • United Arab Emirates
      • Japan
    • Official sites
      • Official site
      • Official site (Japan)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Japanese
      • Persian
    • Also known as
      • Thảm Họa Minamata
    • Filming locations
      • Belgrade, Serbia(Dunav)
    • Production companies
      • Metalwork Pictures
      • American International Pictures (AIP)
      • Golan Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $755,878
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 55m(115 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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