DARK WATERS

US, 2019, 126 minutes, Colour.
Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Pullman, Bill Camp, Victor Garber, Mare Winningham.
Directed by Todd Haynes.


This is a social and political drama well worth seeing. Since the 1980s there have been many films both for cinema and for television that have explored industrial contamination of the environment. It is almost 40 years since Silkwood, 20 years since Erin Brockovich. During the following decades, there were many films with American settings as well as international settings highlighting the poisoning of waters. Dark Waters is based on a true story and was released in 2019. In 2020, there was a parallel story with the Japanese setting, Minimata, with Johnny Depp as a World War II photographer invited to go to Japan to photograph people suffering desperate illnesses for Life Magazine. One might say that it was much more explicitly preachy than Dark Waters which relies on its dramatic impact.

The screenplay is based on a New York Times magazine article by Nathanial Rich, The Lawyer who became Du Pont’s Worst Nightmare. The lawyer is Rob Billot who pursued the issues for almost 20 years, and is still working. He is played with determination and intensity by Mark Ruffalo who is one of the producers of this film. Direction is by Todd Haynes, not his usual kind of film (such as Velvet Goldmine, Far from Heaven, I’m Not There, Carol).

Rob Billot came from West Virginia and, though less well trained and qualified then other partners, was accepted into the managing directors of the prestigious law firm Taft, in Cincinnati. Some contacts from his home town, Parkersburg, alert him to the pollution from Du Pont’s factory and works from the 1960s and 1970s.

The film, chronicling Billot’s campaign, year by year, illustrates his research, communication, not without hostility, from Parkersburg locals, his thorough investigation of petrochemicals, the challenge to Du Pont, the massive documentation that he has to store and examine.

He does have the support of the head of the firm, played by Tim Robbins, but has to encounter critiques and delaying tactics from Du Pont. It takes a toll on his health leading to a collapse. It puts a strain on his family, his wife, played by Anne Hathaway, and his three sons. (He has a Catholic background with a church scene and the singing of a St Louis Jesuit hymn – and a Protestant church scene where they also seen singing Here I am, Lord.)

We see Billot’s devotion, his offer of getting testing for Parkersburg residents to ascertain the levels of harm, working with a key family, but the years of waiting for the results of the investigation. And, then to his dismay, and the audience’s dismay, the further double dealings and reneging by Du Pont.

Though it takes almost 2 decades, and does not have the immediate compensation results that had been hoped for, there is some ultimate redress. (One of the issues from the Du Pont plant was the production of Teflon, its harmful effects in its widespread use, and its being prohibited from 2005.)

A commentator noted that in its portrayal of disastrous realities, it is more terrifying than a horror film.

1. A true story? But applicable to so many corporations, legal issues, protests?

2. The Cincinnati setting, homes, law offices, socials? The scenes in West Virginia, the town, the farms, the Du Pont factory? The musical score?

3. The title, the factory, the waste, the water, effect on the environment, the inhabitants and their illnesses? The elements of horror?

4. Rob Billot, Mark Ruffalo’s presence, an actual character, his still continuing his campaigns? The article about him and its impact? His heroism and self-sacrifice? His career? His wife, children, interactions with the members of the law firm, with Tom, his backing? The conflict with the Du Pont company?

5. Rob as a character, his age, marriage, the baby, the children, working in the law, his promotions, working Cincinnati? His returns to his original town in West Virginia? His grandmother, her home? His employment by Taft, his rising? Wilbur and his approach, demanding, leaving the videos? Rob’s initial reaction?

6. Rob returning to his home, the discussions with his grandmother, visiting Wilbur, the farm, Wilbur’s wife? The information? The Du Pont factory? The effect on the farm, the death of the cows? Wilbur’s brother, Du Pont taking his land? His brother’s death?

7. Tom, his role in the company, listening, the issues over the years, his giving his support, his attitude towards the board?

8. The indication of the years passing, from 1997 to 2015? The reports from the 1970s, the stance of the law, BPA, government? The protests? Legal issues, wanting to sue DuPont? The power of the corporation? Effects on the individuals or groups? The long period of Rob’s involvement, the various steps?

9. The meeting with Phil Donnelly, his representing Du Pont, the discussions, reaction, change of attitude with the issue of suing? Hostility, the documents? The huge number of boxes, in the room, Rob’s beginning to sort them, the years of sorting?

10. West Virginia, Wilbur and his wife, so many cows dead, burying them, the dramatic scene of the cow and its illness, shot? Wilbur, determined, pressuring Rob?

11. The meetings, the various investigations, the intricacy of the details of law, the nature of the chemicals and understanding them? Rob and his process of learning over the years? Getting advice from experts? Trying to formulate the issues in law?

12. Du Pont, its power, its influence, chemicals, the executives, the stances? The revelation of the abuses of the past?

13. The Taft board, the meetings, the differences of opinion, Tom’s intervention?

14. The portrait of Sara, her relationship with Rob, the children, her concerns about him and his health, his work? The Catholic background, Catholic schools? Their not having enough money for the schools? Tom and his support? The sequence of the going to Mass? The hymn?

15. The town, the growing support, the various cases, Du Pont and the decisions? Du Pont forced to agreements – the later reneging?

16. The case, decisions, the tests, 69,000? The importance of the Kiger family, in the town, the husband and wife, their collaboration?

17. The years passing, the waiting, people becoming impatient? Rob and his health, the stroke experience and his collapse? Advice about his health?

18. The years passing, the doctor and the enquiry eventually ringing, the support, the scientific evidence?

19. Immediately after, the ring from the Du Pont executives and their reneging?

20. The decision to go case by case, the number of wins, the increasing payouts? By 2015?

21. The issue of ‘forever chemicals’, Teflon, its effect? The companies and their deceit, the documents, the information about chemicals and covering them? Contamination of the water, the waste?

22. The list of so many other environmental disasters? The influence of the Du Pont case in the United States?