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Minamata

Berlinale Special Gala 2020
© Larry Horricks / HanWay Films
1971. With the glory days of World War II far behind him, celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith has become a recluse. He is at first dismissive of a commission from “Life” Magazine editor Robert "Bob" Hayes to travel back to Japan and investigate the poisoning of the inhabitants of a fishing village called Minamata. But an impassioned Japanese translator, Aileen, urges him to accept, and Smith is finally convinced to do his best to expose the devastating effects of corporate greed, complicit local police and government. Armed with only his trusted camera against a powerful corporation, Smith must gain the broken community’s trust and find the images that will bring this story to the world. Johnny Depp plays the legendary American photographer with his usual consummate dedication, movingly demonstrating how fighting one’s inner demons is a necessary step on the way to greater victories.
by Andrew Levitas (Director, Screenplay), David K. Kessler (Screenplay), Stephen Deuters (Screenplay), Jason Forman (Screenplay)
with Johnny Depp, Hiroyuki Sanada, Minami, Bill Nighy, Jun Kunimura, Ryo Kase, Tadanobu Asano, Akiko Iwase, Katherine Jenkins United Kingdom 2020 English, Japanese 115' Colour & Black/White World premiere

With

  • Johnny Depp (W. Eugene Smith)
  • Hiroyuki Sanada (Mitsuo Yamazaki)
  • Minami (Aileen)
  • Bill Nighy (Robert "Bob" Hayes)
  • Jun Kunimura (Junichi Nojima)
  • Ryo Kase (Kiyoshi)
  • Tadanobu Asano (Tatsuo Matsumura)
  • Akiko Iwase (Masako Matsumura)
  • Katherine Jenkins (Millie)

Crew

Director Andrew Levitas
Screenplay David K. Kessler, Stephen Deuters, Andrew Levitas, Jason Forman
Cinematography Benoît Delhomme
Editing Nathan Nugent
Music Ryūichi Sakamoto
Sound Design Glenn Freemantle
Sound Novica Jankov
Production Design Tom Foden
Costumes Momirka Bailovic
Make-Up Tina Subic
Assistant Director Steve E. Andrews
Casting Yôko Narahashi
Production Manager Aleksandar "Leka" Tadic
Producers Sam Sarkar, Kevan Van Thompson, Andrew Levitas, Johnny Depp

World Sales

HanWay Films

Produced by

Metalwork Pictures

Photos

Press Conference

Andrew Levitas

© Larry D. Horricks

The director works across multiple creative platforms. His metalwork installations combine photography, sculpture and contemporary art. His “Organic Abstractions” – paintings made from homemade pigments and organic materials – have received much critical acclaim. In 2008, he was admitted to the Société nationale des beaux-arts. He made his directing debut with Lullaby, for which he also wrote the screenplay. He has also been involved in numerous films as a producer and is a professor at New York University.

Filmography

2014 Lullaby 2020 Minamata

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2020