Kirk here with some notes on the historical accuracy of Johnny Depp’s MINAMATA. This post has three URLs. The one I saw first and that prompted me to find the English-language article is the second one, which is by Mr. TAKAYAMA Fumihiko and is in Japanese. Mr. Takayama his written a book related to Minamata disease (third URL) and obviously knows a lot about what happened. His review of the movie is quite positive in some respects but points out that some parts of the movie are not quite right (for example, the location of certain events) and at least one event seems to be totally made up. In the English article, the made-up event is described as follows:
— start quote — Did the Chisso Corporation try to pay W. Eugene Smith $50,000 to hand over the negatives of his photos? No. While on a tour of the Chisso Corporation factory in the Minamata Johnny Depp movie, W. Eugene Smith (Depp) is offered $50,000 to turn over his negatives. We could not find evidence of this offer being made in real life, but it does effectively dramatize the power and leverage that Chisso had. — end quote —
This may come under the heading of “artistic license.” Still, in view of the continuing significance of Minamata disease as a real tragedy affecting people here in Kumamoto, I would hope such liberties could be kept to the bare minimum.
I have plans to go see the movie on Monday. I may report back afterwards, particularly if what I see changes my view significantly.
https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/minamata/
https://www.facebook.com/fu.takayama/posts/4336482096429855
https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/髙山-文彦/dp/4065134188/ref=pd_sbs_1/357-1814141-1091861
