Photography captures moments that might otherwise disappear. A new Chinese film, Dead to Rights, uses this power to tell a story about one of the darkest times in history: the Nanjing Massacre of 1937, where Japanese troops killed around 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers.

Based on true events, the film shows Chinese civilians hiding in a photo studio in Nanjing. A Japanese military photographer orders them to develop his film. While working, they discover the negatives (底片) contain shocking proof of terrible crimes committed by Japanese soldiers. Determined to show the world the truth, they secretly save copies of the negatives and risk their lives to send them out.

In real life, a young man named Luo Jin worked at a Nanjing photo studio in 1938. He bravely copied the horrifying images from film brought in by a Japanese officer. He put these photos into an album. Later, another young man, Wu Xuan, protected this album. It became key evidence in the trial of Hisao Tani, a Japanese war criminal. Reports say many photos in the film are copies of Luo Jin’s work.

Many viewers find it deeply sad but important, often moved to tears by its powerful scenes, many shown through shadows and reflections. At a time when some in Japan deny or minimize the Nanjing Massacre, this film reminds us that images can help keep memory true. The movie aims not to create hate, but to fight against forgetting history.

The film is planned for release in countries like Australia, New Zealand, the US, and Canada. In these places, Western stories about World War II often focus only on Europe and the actions of the US and the UK. The huge suffering and resistance of the Chinese people during the war is less known. China was a major victim and a vital force against fascism globally.

By showing this part of World War II from a Chinese viewpoint, Dead to Rights asks international audiences to understand the war’s full scale and the terrible price paid. Films like this make history visible and deeply felt. They remind us that remembering the past is not just a choice, but a necessary act.