Is Dark Waters Based on a True Story? Review, Ending Explained
by Rajalaxmi | Updated Mar 17, 2023
Is Dark Waters Based on a True Story?
The film "Dark Waters" is a gripping drama that delves into the legal battle between a corporate giant and a lone attorney fighting for justice. The movie takes its basis from real events that occurred in Parkersburg, West Virginia, where DuPont was accused of contaminating the local water supply.
The source material for the film's script was Nathaniel Rich's New York Times article "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare." In 2017, DuPont and its spin-off company Chemours agreed to pay $671 million to settle a lawsuit with approximately 3,550 people who were affected by the contamination.
The lawsuit accused DuPont of contaminating the water supply with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA or C-8), a toxic chemical used to make Teflon. DuPont and Chemours denied any wrongdoing, with DuPont stating that it had stopped using C-8 in operations more than a decade ago. The company has also defended its safety and environmental record, claiming to be leading the industry in supporting federal legislation and science-based regulatory efforts to address these chemicals.
While DuPont has disputed some elements of "Dark Waters," the film appears to be a faithful retelling of the legal battle. The movie includes some outlandish moments, such as DuPont's alleged human experiment of offering its staff Teflon-laced cigarettes in the 1960s, and farmer Wilbur Tennant pointing his gun at a DuPont helicopter. However, these moments are based on real events.
Some of the characters in the film, such as DuPont executive Phil Donnelly, are not real people but are most likely composites drawn from several figures. Additionally, some moments in the movie were fabricated for dramatic effect.
Dark Waters Ending Explained
Rob Bilott is a name that may not be familiar to many, but his actions have had a significant impact on the fight against corporate pollution. In 1998, Bilott received a call from a farmer in West Virginia whose cows were dying in droves. The farmer, Wilbur Tennant, suspected that the nearby DuPont plant was responsible. Bilott, a corporate defense attorney, was initially hesitant to take on the case, but Tennant's persistence and the evidence he provided convinced Bilott to investigate further.
What Bilott uncovered was shocking. For decades, DuPont had been dumping a toxic chemical known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) into the nearby Ohio River. PFOA, also known as C8, is used in the production of Teflon and other non-stick coatings. It is also linked to a range of health problems, including cancer, birth defects, and thyroid disease.
Bilott's investigation led to a series of lawsuits against DuPont. He won his first three multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of Tennant and other affected residents. But Bilott didn't stop there. He continued to push for justice and accountability, filing a class-action lawsuit against DuPont on behalf of thousands of residents who had been exposed to PFOA.
In 2017, DuPont settled the class action for $671 million. It was one of the largest settlements of its kind and a significant victory for Bilott and the residents he represented. But the fight against corporate pollution is far from over.
PFOA is still present in the blood of 99% of life on earth, including humans. It is virtually indestructible and can remain in the environment for hundreds of years. And PFOA is just one of the thousands of chemicals that are still unregulated, posing a threat to public health and the environment.
Rob Bilott's work is a powerful reminder of the importance of holding corporations accountable for their actions. His dedication to justice and his willingness to take on powerful adversaries have made a lasting impact on the fight against corporate pollution. But as the legacy of PFOA continues to haunt us, it is clear that there is still much work to be done.
Where was Dark Waters Filmed?
Dark Waters, a legal thriller film directed by Todd Haynes, was primarily filmed in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. The city's diverse landscapes, from urban areas to rural farmland, provided a fitting backdrop for the story's real-life events.
The movie's plot centers around the case of a corporate defense attorney, Robert Bilott, who takes on an environmental lawsuit against a chemical company after a farmer from West Virginia reaches out to him with evidence that the company's waste has contaminated his property and poisoned his cattle. As Bilott delves deeper into the case, he discovers a larger conspiracy involving the company's pollution of the water supply in the region and the government's complicity in covering up the issue.
To capture the essence of the story's location and atmosphere, the film crew chose to shoot in Cincinnati and its surrounding areas. Several key scenes were filmed in the city's historic downtown district, including the federal courthouse, where Bilott argues the case, and a local bar where he meets with his clients. Additionally, scenes set in the company's offices were filmed in a modern glass building in the city's East End neighborhood.
The filmmakers also made use of the region's natural beauty, filming scenes on farms and rural landscapes in nearby counties. The verdant fields and rolling hills provided a stark contrast to the industrial landscapes of the city, underscoring the film's themes of environmental devastation and corporate greed.
In addition to the city's visual appeal, the filmmakers noted that the local crew and residents were welcoming and supportive throughout the production process. The film crew also made an effort to hire locals for key roles in the film, such as extras and production assistants, contributing to the local economy.
Dark Waters Movie Wiki
Dark Waters is a riveting legal thriller movie that tells the real-life story of Robert Bilott's heroic battle against a corporate giant. Directed by Todd Haynes and written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan, the film stars Mark Ruffalo as Bilott, a tenacious lawyer who takes on a powerful chemical manufacturing company after discovering they have been poisoning a small town with unregulated chemicals.
The movie is based on the 2016 New York Times Magazine article titled "The Lawyer Who Became DuPont's Worst Nightmare" by Nathaniel Rich. The story highlights Bilott's tireless efforts to uncover the truth behind the contamination of the Ohio River Valley with a chemical called PFOA, also known as C8, which was produced by DuPont.
Parts of the story were also reported by Mariah Blake, whose 2015 article "Welcome to Beautiful Parkersburg, West Virginia" was a National Magazine Award finalist, and Sharon Lerner, whose series "Bad Chemistry" ran in The Intercept. Moreover, Callie Lyons, a Mid-Ohio Valley journalist who covered the controversy as it was unfolding, first told the story in the 2007 book Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof, and Lethal: The Hidden Dangers of C8.
In the film, Bilott's journey begins when he is approached by Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp), a farmer whose land and cattle have been poisoned by DuPont's chemical waste. Despite being a corporate defense lawyer, Bilott decides to take on Tennant's case, and soon uncovers a web of lies and deception, implicating DuPont in a massive cover-up.
As Bilott delves deeper into the case, he discovers that DuPont had been aware of the dangers of C8 for decades but had covered it up to avoid litigation. With the help of his wife Sarah (Anne Hathaway) and his boss Tom Terp (Tim Robbins), Bilott embarks on a twenty-year legal battle against DuPont, fighting to hold them accountable for their wrongdoing and seeking justice for the victims.
The movie is a powerful and emotional depiction of one man's fight against a corporate giant, exposing the corrupt practices of an industry that prioritizes profit over the health and safety of people and the environment. Dark Waters is a must-watch film that sheds light on the importance of standing up for what is right and the need for greater accountability and regulation of corporations.
Dark Waters Review
Todd Haynes is a master of cinematic storytelling with a unique authorial voice that often explores themes of identity and sexuality, fantasy, pastiche, and the intricacies of period detail. He is known for his distinctive style that draws from left field and challenges the norms of American cinema. However, with his latest film, Dark Waters, Haynes departs from his usual genre and presents a straight-ahead, true-life legal thriller that is fluently adapted by screenwriters Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan from a New York Times magazine article by Nathaniel Rich.
The film follows the story of Rob Bilott, a corporate lawyer from Ohio, played by the talented Mark Ruffalo. Bilott built a prosperous career representing big and powerful companies in the 1990s. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a call from an angry West Virginia farmer named Wilbur Tennant, played by the ferocious Bill Camp. Wilbur is a friend and neighbor of Bilott's grandmother and has been struggling to save his cows from being poisoned by a nearby DuPont plant. Bilott realizes that something truly evil is going on and decides to take on the corporate giant.
Dark Waters is a gripping legal drama that plays out in the classic style of a principled lawyer taking on the bad guys on behalf of ordinary folks. The film is devoid of any ironic self-awareness or stylistic touches that are typical of Haynes' films. However, given that it is a film about bad things being hidden in the waters, the opening scene with young people swimming in a poisoned creek could allude to the opening of Jaws.
Dark Waters Movie Trailer
Is Dark Waters based on a true story - FAQs
The movie Dark Waters was released in the United States on November 22, 2019.
The movie Dark Waters was directed by Todd Haynes.
The movie Dark Waters was written by Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan.
The movie Dark Waters is based on the real-life story of Robert Bilott's legal battle against the chemical manufacturing corporation DuPont.
Yes, the movie Dark Waters is based on the true story of Robert Bilott's legal battle against DuPont.