Shinya Tsukamoto Unveils Details & First Images For Vietnam Drama ‘Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?’ With Rodney Hicks & Geoffrey Rush
Why it matters: This film offers a crucial, international perspective on the human cost of war and PTSD.
- Shinya Tsukamoto unveils details and first images for his English-language debut, "Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?", a long-gestated project following his war-themed Japanese films.
- Rodney Hicks takes on his first big screen lead role as Allen Nelson, an African American Vietnam War veteran grappling with severe PTSD, while Geoffrey Rush portrays Dr. Daniels, who aids in Nelson's recovery.
- Allen Nelson's story, which deeply impacted Tsukamoto, highlights his journey from escaping poverty and discrimination by joining the Marines, to the horrors of Vietnam where he was forced to kill, and his subsequent dedication to speaking out against war, particularly in Japan where he gave hundreds of lectures.
- Kino Films is producing and distributing the film, following their international box office success with "Conclave" and gearing up for the Michael Jackson biopic "Michael".
Cult Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto is set to release his English-language debut, "Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People?", a Vietnam War drama starring Rodney Hicks and Geoffrey Rush, based on the harrowing true story of African American veteran Allen Nelson's struggle with PTSD and his later advocacy against war. The film, a cross-border production, delves into Nelson's experiences from a poor upbringing to the brutal realities of combat and his eventual path to rehabilitation and activism, particularly his deep connection with Japan.
