Minamata, a film drama based on the book by W. Eugene and Green Action director Aileen M. Smith, premiered on February 21st at the Berlin International Film Festival. Directed by Andrew Levitas, the film stars Johnny Depp as photographer Eugene Smith, who travels with Aileen to Japan to document the effects of mercury poisoning on the residents of a coastal community. Actors Bill Nighy, Hiroyuki Sanada and Minami play supporting roles as Life editor Robert Hayes, activist Mitsuo Yamazaki and Aileen Mioko Smith.
At a press conference for the film, Depp, who spearheaded the film’s production, said he felt that Minamata was “a story that needed to be told.” He spoke of his belief in the “power of the small” to confront and topple “monolithic opponents.”
Aileen Mioko Smith, Katherine Jenkins, Akiko Iwase, Minami (photo courtesy Berlinale 2020) 
The film team (photo courtesy Berlinale 2020) 
Minami and Johnny Depp as Aileen Mioko Smith and W. Eugene Smith in Minamata
At the premiere, Green Action and environmental organization IPEN distributed flyers to raise awareness of ongoing mercury pollution from fossil fuels, gold mining and industrial contamination.
- Minamata film review in The Guardian
- No More Minamatas flyer (PDF)
- My Life with W. Eugene Smith — Reminiscences by Aileen Mioko Smith