[KineJapan] Minamata review

Markus Nornes nornes at umich.edu
Sat Feb 22 07:14:29 EST 2020


I wonder if Tsuchimoto makes an appearance?

M

https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/minamata-review-johnny-depp-1203509223/


“A sledgehammer treatment of many of the same issues so elegantly addressed
in Todd Haynes’ recent “Dark Waters” (a domestic industrial-negligence saga
all but overlooked in theaters last fall), “Minamata” features several
jazzed-up white-knuckle sequences in which Gene, Aileen and other activists
— including a charismatic organizer played by the great Japanese actor
Hiroyuki Sanada — trespass in hospital wards and research labs where the
Chisso Corp. patients are being treated for methylmercury contamination.

Chisso makes for a powerful adversary that has both the police and local
goons in its pocket, a massive chemical company that dumps its toxic
byproducts directly into the water supply. Levitas sanitizes the waste
water Gene observes, presumably to make the thick sludge he actually
documented in 1971 seem more credible. But when it comes to violent
confrontations — including an attack that leaves Gene badly bruised and
bandaged for the taking of his impactful “Tomoko in Her Bath” photograph —
Levitas shows no such restraint, leaning on master composer Ryuichi
Sakamoto (in top form) to amplify the fundamental integrity of Smith’s
anti-corporate exposé“

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*Markus Nornes*
*Professor of Asian Cinema*
Department of Film, Television and Media, Department of Asian Languages and
Cultures, Penny Stamps School of Art & Design

*Department of Film, Television and Media*
*6348 North Quad*
*105 S. State Street*
*Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1285*
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