Latest news with #ShenAo
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
CGTN: Why Chinese film Dead to Rights topped global weekend box office
BEIJING, Aug. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese film Dead to Rights has been maintaining its top position on China's weekend box office since its premiere on July 25th. That also made it the No. 1 watched film globally over the just past weekend. According to popular Chinese film industry tracker Maoyan, by Tuesday the film has raked in 1.7 billion Yuan, or about 236.6 million dollars. The film now holds an 8.6 rating on Chinese review platform Douban and has been reviewed or reported by international press like "Variety", Channel News Asia, among others. The film is set against the backdrop of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre and follows the life of a group of Chinese civilians who seek refuge in a photography studio. While bidding for survival, they assisted a Japanese military photographer to develop films, only to uncover graphic images of the atrocities. They risked their lives to preserve the evidence. The film's massive success should, of course, be first attributed to its powerful storytelling and artistic execution. Director Shen Ao has avoided sensationalism, using only minimalistic visuals to convey horror, for example, a knife held to a baby or rivers of bloodshed. In this way, emotional depth and authenticity have been created. The film's layered storytelling and polished production design also present viewers with unraveled technical craftsmanship. Movie goers are drawn to the cinema for Dead to Rights also because, fundamentally, the movie has done justice to history. Evan Kail, an American who donated a photo album of Japanese war crimes to China, said the film is a "ten out of ten" that keeps history alive, honors the victims and exposes the past against all odds. Remembering the past is not to stir or preserve hatred; rather, it is to remind us to cherish modern peace. Increasing Yasukuni Shrine visits and wartime denial by some Japanese rightists these days are risking Asia's or even the world's stability. By preserving evidence on screen, films like Dead to Rights counter Japan's historical amnesia and expose the truth that must be held and told. The movie is slated to premiere globally in places like Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, among others. With over 35 million military and civilian casualties combined, China was a vital, but often forgotten, member of the Allies battling Japan during WWII. As both a universal call to peace and a truthful reflection on history, the film Dead to Rights deserves the time and attention of global viewers.
Cision Canada
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
CGTN: Why Chinese film Dead to Rights topped global weekend box office
BEIJING, Aug. 6, 2025 /CNW/ -- Chinese film Dead to Rights has been maintaining its top position on China's weekend box office since its premiere on July 25th. That also made it the No. 1 watched film globally over the just past weekend. According to popular Chinese film industry tracker Maoyan, by Tuesday the film has raked in 1.7 billion Yuan, or about 236.6 million dollars. The film now holds an 8.6 rating on Chinese review platform Douban and has been reviewed or reported by international press like "Variety", Channel News Asia, among others. The film is set against the backdrop of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre and follows the life of a group of Chinese civilians who seek refuge in a photography studio. While bidding for survival, they assisted a Japanese military photographer to develop films, only to uncover graphic images of the atrocities. They risked their lives to preserve the evidence. The film's massive success should, of course, be first attributed to its powerful storytelling and artistic execution. Director Shen Ao has avoided sensationalism, using only minimalistic visuals to convey horror, for example, a knife held to a baby or rivers of bloodshed. In this way, emotional depth and authenticity have been created. The film's layered storytelling and polished production design also present viewers with unraveled technical craftsmanship. Movie goers are drawn to the cinema for Dead to Rights also because, fundamentally, the movie has done justice to history. Evan Kail, an American who donated a photo album of Japanese war crimes to China, said the film is a "ten out of ten" that keeps history alive, honors the victims and exposes the past against all odds. Remembering the past is not to stir or preserve hatred; rather, it is to remind us to cherish modern peace. Increasing Yasukuni Shrine visits and wartime denial by some Japanese rightists these days are risking Asia's or even the world's stability. By preserving evidence on screen, films like Dead to Rights counter Japan's historical amnesia and expose the truth that must be held and told. The movie is slated to premiere globally in places like Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Malaysia, Singapore, among others. With over 35 million military and civilian casualties combined, China was a vital, but often forgotten, member of the Allies battling Japan during WWII. As both a universal call to peace and a truthful reflection on history, the film Dead to Rights deserves the time and attention of global viewers.
Express Tribune
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Chinese film ignites dialogue on wartime atrocities
The harrowing new Chinese film, Dead To Rights, about the Nanjing Massacre has stirred strong emotions across the country, sparking widespread reflection on a traumatic chapter in China's history, reported Xinhua. As per Deadline, the historical drama is set around the events of the Nanjing Massacre in 1937, where a postman named A Chang pretends to be a photo developer in a photo studio, developing photos for the Japanese army. He takes in a group of Chinese soldiers and civilians, turning the studio into a temporary shelter. 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. Directed by Shen Ao (No More Bets), the film will open theatrically in the US and Canada on August 15, ahead of a planned streaming rollout later this year. Recognised for its emotional weight and stark portrayal of a national trauma, Dead To Rights has resonated deeply with audiences in China. 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 sensationalise; it lets these chilling images speak for themselves." 'Lost in deep thought' On ticketing platform Maoyan, one user shared a poignant reflection after taking two children to see the film: "At first, I was worried they'd be scared, but then I realised: if we can't face history, what will we do in the future? I want them to understand real history, which is harsher than what's depicted in the movie. Our land must never be surrendered!" In another post, a Maoyan user recalled a tender moment after the screening, when a young girl asked her mother if there were any "post-credit scenes." The mother replied, "The true 'post-credit scene' is when we step out of the cinema." "Indeed, the lively streets, the bustling crowd, the smell of food in the air — this is the true miracle," noted the comment. This sentiment captures the essence of the film's call to cherish the peace and vitality of modern China, all made possible by the sacrifices of the past. 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." By the end of Sunday, its third day of release, Dead To Rights had grossed over 400 million yuan ($56 million), with over 10 million admissions nationwide, according to data from Maoyan. Largely driven by this film, China's daily box office on Sunday surpassed 300 million yuan, marking the first time in 154 days that the threshold had been crossed. According to Maoyan's latest projection, Dead To Rights is expected to earn more than 3.2 billion yuan in total revenue, a substantial upward revision from earlier estimates.
