Although history is rarely kind or pretty, looking back at past mistakes and even horrific events can help society move forward. We must learn from our mistakes, right the wrongs as much as humanly possible, and hold people and corporations accountable for their actions. Directed by Andrew Levitas and produced by and starring Johnny Depp, Minamata tells the story of the titular disease and the injustice generations of families have faced due to a corporate-caused environmental disaster.
In the film, Depp takes on the role of W. Eugene Smith, an American photographer who made history during the early-to-mid-1970s by photographing the effects of mercury poisoning in the Japanese city of Minamata. Alongside Smith was impassioned translator Aileen Mioko Smith, who helped document these events.
In the film, Aileen is played by French and Japanese actress Minami, who talked to Movieweb about how the film changed her life and why this remains an important topic today.
The Importance of Minamata
Samuel Goldwyn Films
Melissa Hannon: Many moviegoers will still recognize you from your first acting experience in Battle Royale (2000) when you were 13 years old. The film has a huge cult following, two decades later. Has the ongoing fan response and momentum surprised you?
Minami: Yes, I’m surprised, but at the same moment, I think maybe they are trying to create a great movie more than Battle Royale. If I watch a few things like Hunger Games or Squid Games, Battle Royale is maybe the influence. So, I’m very proud of that. It’s a cult movie, and I love cult movies, so I’m just proud to be a part of that project.
MH: That is great to hear. Your newest film, Minamata, is based on real events that took place in Japan. How important was it for you to be involved with this film?
Minami: I knew the story because we learned at school when you’re a teenager. But we just learned one of the history in Japan, so we didn’t dig deeply about what happened. I watched a lot of documentaries and read books from the audition. When I got the role, Andrew (Levitas) gave me 300 pages of documents about Minamata, and it was really hard to read everything because, you know, it’s a disease and everything. It was very hard to accept. But I said to myself, you need to open your eyes, and my mission of the role is to tell the truth to the world.
So even for me, as a Japanese, I think a lot of people don’t know the whole story, so it is very important to do this story and to tell it to the world. I think it’s not only the story of Japan, it’s a lot of factory pollution, it’s happening in the world. It’s not the responsibility of one person or one country, so it’s very timely. It’s really hard to accept the reality, but we need to open our eyes.
How The Film Affects Minami
MH: Absolutely, and it is devastating that it’s still relevant today, as you said, with pollution and water crises. How did the film affect you personally?
Minami: Honestly, this movie changed my life. Of course, because I play in an American movie but not only this side. It’s really opened my eyes. The sad thing in Japan is we don’t talk as much about politic things. I’m trying to open my voice and, even for the interview, it’s quite taboo to tell about the politics in Japan or against Japanese politics. But, of course, we are not perfect, and we need to change a lot of things, so I don’t want to come back to before Minamata. If I realize that happened, and I’m faced with that reality, I think we need to go forward with that and try to change. As an actress, I can maybe do something to speak up loudly and to tell the people to, especially in Japan, open their eyes.
MH: As an activist, Aileen is a huge inspiration for many and has left her mark in history. What was the pressure like stepping into the role?
Minami: She’s very strong, she’s a very powerful activist, and she never gives up. But I think at some points, we are connected to each other. If you have a goal, you never give up the goal. For me, honestly, the casting was hard, the shooting was hard, everything was hard. But I didn’t want to give up. We had a few similar points, I think, with Aileen, but she’s brave, and I respect her very much.
MH: You portrayed Aileen very well; you and Johnny Depp were effective in these roles.
Minami: Thank you.
MH: You’re welcome. The film is heavy, but it’s an important topic to get in front of people, as you said. Sadly, I wasn’t even aware of these events deeper until now.
On Preserving the Truth
Minami: It is very easy to forget our mistakes. I think it’s really important to make a movie or to photograph or something to keep the truth and to show everyone and to not forget about our mistakes. I think humans are ugly, angry animals with a lot of ego, but we’re trying to change or make it better. I think this movie is about hope, too. We have hope and to never give up fighting. I was also very surprised no one in Japan wanted to realize it until today or even today. It wasn’t a Japanese project, so I’m happy Andrew and Johnny decided to make this movie, but I was also a little bit sad no Japanese wanted to do that until now. I think they wanted to not forget, but its political things with Chisso Corporation, and they wanted to hide a lot of things. But we need the courage to realize, even for Japanese people, that it was a big message for us, too.
MH: I know Minamata releasing is a primary focus now, but are there any other projects coming up soon?
Minami: Yeah, I play in a movie of Mike Figgis with a script from Bruce Wagner. We shot last year in Hong Kong. It was great, and I’m very happy to do the part of this project. I think that we show this year. No one knows about the COVID situation. Also, I’m in Japan right now for a few different projects, and I can’t say right now, but I would be happy to share with you soon.
Minamata is now playing in U.S. movie theaters, via Samuel Goldwyn Films.
