China Film Co. Ltd. announced its new film "Dead to Rights" will release in Chinese theaters on Aug. 2, exposing the crimes committed by Japanese invaders during the Nanjing Massacre through the story of a photo studio set in 1937.

A poster for "Dead to Rights." [Image courtesy of China Film Co. Ltd.]

The Nanjing Massacre refers to a period of history that started when Japanese troops captured the then Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. In the space of six weeks, they killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers.

Directed by Shen Ao and starring Liu Haoran, Wang Chuanjun, Gao Ye and Wang Xiao, "Dead to Rights" is based on documented evidence of Japanese military atrocities during the massacre. In the film, a group of civilians take shelter in a photo studio in Nanjing, where they are forced to develop film for Japanese military photographers in exchange for survival — turning the studio into a temporary safe house. But when they accidentally process photos that prove the massacre, and the Japanese army attempts to cover up the truth, they risk everything to smuggle the evidence out.

"We wanted to use the photo studio as a subtle yet revealing lens to reflect larger truths through small details," the director explained. The film is based on surviving photographic evidence from the Nanjing Massacre — those familiar images from textbooks and news reports everyone has seen, yet few know how these records of Japanese atrocities were preserved and ultimately brought to light.

Shen structured the narrative around the wartime experiences of ordinary Nanjing residents, using their stories to show how crucial evidence emerged — presenting this historical tragedy from a fresh perspective that vividly brings the events to life on the big screen.

As the director noted, these ordinary individuals became glimmers of light in one of the darkest chapters of history. 

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in both the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. To commemorate this historic milestone, the filmmakers present "Dead to Rights," a powerful cinematic account that gives tangible form to history through its extraordinary story.

The film is a strong summer contender in China's film market, considering the success of Shen Ao's 2023 blockbuster "No More Bets" that drew significant public interest, sparked widespread discussion and earned 3.85 billion yuan ($530 million).