Minamata (2020)
In 1971, the American photographer W. Eugene Smith, who was famous for his numerous “photographic essays” published in Life, has become a recluse. While on a separate assignment, a passionate Japanese translator, Aileen, urges Smith to visit Minamata to photograph and document the disease. Smith is finally convinced to do his best to unmask the devastating effects of corporate greed, an accomplice of the local police and government.
Smith travels to Minamata in Japan to document the devastating effect of mercury poisoning and Minamata disease in coastal communities. This disease is caused by industrial pollution linked to the activities of the chemical company Chisso. Armed with only his Minolta camera against a powerful company, Smith must win the trust of the broken community and find the images that will bring this story to the world. While there, Smith becomes the victim of severe reprisals. He is therefore urgently repatriated to the United States. However, this report will make him an icon of photojournalism.
Date of download: 2015-11-11T17:22:34+00:00
Cast:  Johnny DeppW. Eugene Smith  Akiko IwaseMasako Matsumura  Katherine JenkinsMillie  Bill NighyRobert Hayes  MinamiAileen  Tadanobu AsanoTatsuo Matsumura  Ryô KaseKiyoshi  Hiroyuki SanadaMitsuo Yamazaki  Jun KunimuraJunichi Nojima |
In 1971, the American photographer W. Eugene Smith, who was famous for his numerous “photographic essays” published in Life, has become a recluse. While on a separate assignment, a passionate Japanese translator, Aileen, urges Smith to visit Minamata to photograph and document the disease. Smith is finally convinced to do his best to unmask the devastating effects of corporate greed, an accomplice of the local police and government.
Smith travels to Minamata in Japan to document the devastating effect of mercury poisoning and Minamata disease in coastal communities. This disease is caused by industrial pollution linked to the activities of the chemical company Chisso. Armed with only his Minolta camera against a powerful company, Smith must win the trust of the broken community and find the images that will bring this story to the world. While there, Smith becomes the victim of severe reprisals. He is therefore urgently repatriated to the United States. However, this report will make him an icon of photojournalism.
