LOS ANGELES — The North American premiere of Dead to Rights, a film chronicling the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, drew filmmakers, historians, and cultural advocates to Los Angeles this week. Co-hosted by CGTN America, the event aimed to foster reflection on one of World War II’s most harrowing chapters as the world marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The documentary-style feature, already released in Australia and New Zealand on August 7, will debut in over 250 U.S. theaters on August 15 with 20,000 screenings planned. Subsequent releases are scheduled for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Malaysia, Singapore, and other countries.
Attendees emphasized the film’s role in bridging historical understanding. 'This isn’t just about revisiting tragedy,' said one historian. 'It’s about ensuring such atrocities are never repeated.' The project aligns with global efforts to preserve wartime memory amid rising geopolitical tensions.
For diaspora communities and historians, Dead to Rights offers a visceral connection to Asia’s wartime legacy. Its broad international release underscores the growing appetite for narratives that contextualize the region’s pivotal role in 20th-century history.
