Washington: The North American premiere of "Dead To Rights," a Chinese historical film about the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, was held Wednesday night at a cinema near Washington, D.C., resonating strongly with the audience.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the film draws on verified photographic evidence of Japanese wartime atrocities during the Nanjing Massacre. It tells the story of a group of Chinese civilians who seek refuge in a photography studio during the occupation of Nanjing by Japanese forces. The screening ended in silence, with the audience visibly moved by the film.

A poignant moment occurred when a member of the audience broke the stillness by shouting, "Japan, apologize!" Many attendees, some in tears, remained seated, lost in emotion after the film ended. Mr. Ma, originally from Anhui province near Nanjing and currently working at the World Bank, expressed a deep heaviness in his heart after watching the film. He criticized Japan for attempting to erase history and denying wartime atrocities.

David Huang, a veteran journalist and founder of World Today Television, commented on the ongoing denial of historical events in Japanese educational and media narratives. He advocated for the film to be produced in multiple languages to reach a broader audience and reveal the truth.

The Nanjing Massacre saw more than 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers killed and 20,000 women raped over a 40-day period following the Japanese capture of Nanjing on December 13, 1937. Zhao Jie, who has lived in the United States for over 20 years, emphasized the importance of remembering this tragic history.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng attended the premiere, joining overseas Chinese and others in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. In his remarks, Xie stressed the importance of remembering history to avoid repeating it, highlighting the unity and sacrifice of the Chinese people during the war.

Xie further noted that the 1.4 billion Chinese people would not tolerate attempts to alter WWII history and underscored the shared responsibility of China and the United States to safeguard peace. He emphasized that remembering history is essential for paving the way to a brighter future, advocating for peace and justice in the current era.