Film on Nanjing Massacre ignites strong emotions across China

A harrowing new Chinese film about the Nanjing Massacre has stirred strong emotions across the country, sparking widespread reflection on a traumatic chapter in China’s history.

A poster for “Dead to Rights.” File photos

“Dead to Rights” centers on a group of Chinese civilians who take refuge in a photography studio during the Japanese aggressors’ brutal occupation of Nanjing in 1937.

In a desperate attempt to stay alive, they are forced to assist a Japanese military photographer in developing film — only to discover that the negatives contain damning evidence of atrocities committed by Japanese forces across the city. They secretly keep the negatives and risk their lives to deliver them to the outside world, in the hope that the truth would be revealed.

A poster for “Dead to Rights.” 

Recognized for its emotional weight and stark portrayal of a national trauma, “Dead to Rights” has resonated deeply with audiences. The film’s Douban rating, a key gauge of public sentiment, reached 8.6 out of 10.

A popular comment on Douban observed, “The simplicity and restraint of the storytelling make every scene piercingly poignant. The few images — such as the knife held to a baby, the rolling heads, the red river of blood — are more than enough to communicate the horror. The film doesn’t sensationalize; it lets these chilling images speak for themselves.”

Renowned director Feng Xiaoning, speaking in a video circulated widely online, shared his reaction to the film. “When the film ended, the entire audience remained seated, unmoving, until the credits had fully rolled. Everyone was lost in deep thought,” he said. “I believe every Chinese person, and everyone in the world with a conscience, will be shaken by this film.”

According to latest projection, “Dead to Rights” is expected to earn more than 3.2 billion yuan (US$443.7 million) in total revenue. (Xinhua)