AceShowbiz - Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People? is the latest film from acclaimed Japanese director Shinya Tsukamoto, known for his groundbreaking work in body horror with Tetsuo: The Iron Man. This new drama, his first primarily English-language feature, is based on the true story of an African American Vietnam War veteran who later became a peace activist deeply connected to Japan. The film is slated for release in Japanese cinemas in September, with a possible premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

Tsukamoto wrote, directed, shot, and edited the film, marking a notable shift in his career. The production was shot across multiple countries, including the United States, Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan. Broadway performer Rodney Hicks, who appeared in the original and closing casts of Rent, takes on the lead role of Allen Nelson. Veteran actor Geoffrey Rush, an Oscar, Emmy, and Tony winner, plays Dr. Daniels, a Veterans Affairs doctor who helps Nelson during a personal crisis. Tatyana Ali, known from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, portrays Nelson’s wife Linda, while newcomer Mark Merphy appears as the younger Nelson in flashbacks.

The film tells the story of Allen Nelson, who grew up in New York and enlisted in the Marine Corps at 18 to escape poverty and discrimination. After training at Camp Hansen in Okinawa, he was deployed to Vietnam in 1966, where he took part in raids targeting suspected Viet Cong villagers, including men, women, and children. Severely traumatized by his experiences, Nelson struggled with homelessness upon returning to the U.S. before receiving treatment through the Veterans Affairs system.

Following his recovery, Nelson dedicated his life to anti-war activism, returning to Okinawa in 1996 and delivering over 1,200 lectures at schools and community centers across Japan. He passed away in 2009 and is buried in Japan, underscoring his lasting connection to the country.

Shinya Tsukamoto sees Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People? as the conclusion of an informal trilogy exploring 20th-century war experiences. His earlier works include Fires on the Plain (2014), an adaptation of Shohei Ooka’s novel about a Japanese soldier in the Philippines during World War II, which competed at Venice’s main competition. His 2023 film Shadow of Fire, set in postwar Japan’s black markets, premiered in Venice’s Orizzonti section and won the NETPAC Award. While those films focused on the Japanese wartime experience, Mr. Nelson shifts attention to the American side and the emotional wounds of those who fought.

The project took seven years to develop, originating from Tsukamoto’s research for Fires on the Plain. He describes the nonfiction book that inspired the film as “the most terrifying work of nonfiction I encountered,” praising Nelson’s candid recounting of his wartime actions and their aftermath. The story, according to Tsukamoto, is especially relevant today amid ongoing global conflicts.

Mr. Nelson, Did You Kill People? is produced and distributed in Japan by the Kinoshita Group and its distribution label Kino Films. The announcement of the film’s release was timed to coincide with National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29, highlighting its significance as a story about war, trauma, and reconciliation.