Minimata is a dramatization of what became Smith’s most important and recognizable body of work. In 1951, Chisso chemical company started dumping untreated wastewater into Minimata Bay on the West coast of Kyushu Island, Japan. Not long after, villagers started to notice cats getting ill and by 1956 humans were experiencing the same signs of poisoning.
Despite MGM banning the release of the film in the US, it is still available to watch in the UK and Australia on YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV and Amazon Prime.
I always thought that the name of the village was Minamata
Yes, you are right. I copied the text from the Digital Camera World Magazine. Sounded strange, as I also remember it as Minamata, but then thought those guys should know better.