Metalwork Pictures’ Minamata starring Johnny Depp as celebrated war photographer W. Eugene Smith. This redemptive thriller, a real-life David versus Goliath story, pitts Smith against a powerful corporation responsible for poisoning the people of Minamata – Japan in 1971. Minamata is an extremely moving story of how one man’s powerful photograph impacted the world to take action. HanWay Films is handling international sales at the Cannes Film Festival. The film is directed by Metalwork Pictures’ Andrew Levitas and also stars Bill Nighy, Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Ryo Kase, and Jun Kunimura
Director: Andrew Levitas
Based on the book by Aileen Mioko Smith and W. Eugene Smith
Adapted for the screen by David K. Kessler
Cast: Johnny Depp, Bill Nighy, Minami, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tadanobu Asano, Ryo Kase and Jun Kunimura
Producers: Johnny Depp and Sam Sarkar for Infinitum Nihil, Andrew Levitas under his Metalwork Pictures banner and Gabrielle Tana
International Sales: HanWay Films
Synopsis: With the glory days of World War II far behind him W. Eugene Smith (Depp) has become a recluse, disconnected from society and his career. But an old friend and a commission from “Life Magazine” editor (Nighy) convinces him to journey back to Japan to expose a big story: the devastating annihilation of a coastal community, victims of corporate greed and complicit local police and government. Armed with only his trusted camera, Smith must gain the trust of this struggling community and find the images that will bring the story to the World. The victims’ case against the corporation responsible for this environmental disaster represents one of the biggest payouts of all time, with present day sufferers of Minamata disease still in court today seeking compensation. Production has spent time in Minamata meeting some of the victims and their families and the film is being made with their support.