COLUMBIA TN PHOTOGRAPHER THOUGHTS ON MINAMATA THE MOVIE
COLUMBIA TN PHOTOGRAPHER THOUGHTS MINAMATA THE MOVIE
“Tomoko and Mother in the Bath” by W. Eugene Smith
Tomoko Uemura Is Bathed by Her Mother
1972 (negative); 1979 (print)
W. Eugene Smith, American, 1918 - 1978
“Tomoko and Mother in the Bath” is the most iconic and considered to be the most powerful image of the 20th century.
Minamata the Movie - the History and William Eugene Smith American Photojournalist
You might ask - Who is William Eugene Smith?
William Eugene Smith was an American photojournalist. He has been described as "perhaps the single most important American photographer in the development of the editorial photo essay."
Photographers, this is a must-see photography movie. No wait - everybody should see this movie - everyone.
I've never made a review on a movie, But There's a first time for everything. I guess in my blogs, I share anything I find interesting, and I find it of value.
Minamata stars Johnny Depp, and may I say that I'm looking at the movie, not Jonny Depp lately. The critical narrative is that this is one of the best photojournalists.
Those who know photojournalism would know Eugene Smith. He's one of the rare talents in the whole genre of the frontline documentary. Eugene Smith worked for LIFE magazine, uncovering numerous big stories since World War II. Eugene Smith was a photographer’s photographer.
Eugene Smith was perhaps the most influential American photographer in the development of the editorial photo essay. His visual narratives, usually published in Life magazine, were often brutally atmospheric.
The movie Minamata tells the story of his last assignment that made him an Icon. I'm not here to cover the historical facts of the movie, but the entire script is based on the photo essay book written by Aileen Miyoko and Eugene Smith himself.
The entire event went global in the 70s via submission pictures that were published by LIFE magazine. One particular photo captured in 1971 and published the following year, “Tomoko and Mother in the Bath” became one of the “Tomoko and Mother in the Bath” is the most iconic and considered to be the most powerful image of the 20th century.
I've seen a few photography-related movies in the past. Most usually come out quite good. But Minamata, the film is different because it doesn't feel like a movie. Minamata the movie is more like a documentary. Just the main characters are played by actors instead of the people themselves. The entire flow of the film follows the same feel just without the narration.
But that's the power of this movie. The music was simple yet very fitting and very Japanese, and even the tones are very Japanese. I love how Johnny Depp portrays Eugene Smith without the exaggerated expressions, which is quite a departure from captain sparrow. I also love how the film showcased the relationship between Smith and Miyoko. The chemistry between them throughout the entire film without the need to get into the wrong scene.
Being a photographer myself, I can't stop by getting intrigued by this version of Eugene Smith. There is a scene where Eugene spoke to Eileen after they found the secret documents about the knowledge of the whole mercury poisoning saga. Eileen was super emotional, and being a veteran journalist, he said something that I took to heart.
“You cannot let your emotions run the show because you will lose, and sometimes you might die - focus on the photograph you want to take Focus on what you want to say”
The movie is something that I enjoyed watching without feeling cynical and letting my photographer self fall into Eugene's last assignment in Minamata.
Minamata, the movie, is a wake-up call to many who forgot about our responsibility to keep the world together. But it's also a great portrait of the journey of how these powerful yet disturbing images were captured by the master of photojournalism W Eugene Smith.
Minamata, the event is a big deal. We should learn from it can take action to help others.
Some takeaways from the movies:
Very educational.
Great way to cover history.
The power of a community coming together to accomplish a goal.
Seizing the opportunity.
Rising to the challenge.
Learning from others.
Using talents to help others.
Story themes in the movie:
Redemption
Transformation
Justice
Sacrifice
Good vs. evil
Love
Courage and perseverance
Quotes by W Eugene Smith
“Photography is a small voice, at best, but sometimes – just sometimes – one photograph or a group of them can lure our senses into awareness. Much depends upon the viewer; in some, photographs can summon enough emotion to be a catalyst to thought.”
- W. Eugene Smith
"The first word I would strike from the annals of journalism is the word objective"
- W. Eugene Smith
Movie Scene
MINAMATA Official Trailer (2021) Johnny Depp, Bill Nighy, Drama Movie HD
What is Minamata Disease?
https://youtu.be/t82Jx7qU-ug
Japan rediscovers Minamata ecological disaster
https://youtu.be/NSLEwtP8gcM
Other Resources
W. EUGENE SMITH MEMORIAL FUND
https://www.smithfund.org/
Masters of Photography, W. Eugene Smith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNvY3r0NGXs&t=5s
Revisiting Minamata, and a Storied Mentor
MINAMATA - The story of the poisoning of a city, and of the people who choose to carry the burden of courage.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/minamata---the-story-of-the-poisoning-of-a-city-and-of-the-people-who-choose-to-carry-the-burden-of-courage_w-eugene-smith_aileen-m-smith/396344/vintage/?vid=1035461190&gclid=Cj0KCQjwn4qWBhCvARIsAFNAMih85uy9YxqbDcSe8IxQe85aGVul1Tj4z8Nc7jpO4Qjf9q3zBy3MbKAaAhleEALw_wcB
Top 50 US chemical producers for 2022
https://cen.acs.org/business/finance/CENs-top-50-US-chemical-producers-for-2021/100/i16
Top 10 of anthropogenic and natural environmental disasters
https://www.lenntech.com/environmental-disasters.htm#ixzz7Y6JvkLxs
List of industrial disasters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_industrial_disasters
Kenneth Purdom
Cell 615-310-7171
Kenneth@KennethPurdom.com
https://www.KennethPurdom.com
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Entrepreneur, Photographer, and Artist based in Historical Columbia, TN. Owner of Real Estate Photographer Pro - Founder of Portraits for LOVE - Creator of the Fashion Photographers Nashville, TN and Location Scout Nashville, TN.