Chinese film on Nanjing Massacre screened in Budapest

Moviegoers walk by a poster of the movie Dead To Rights at a theater in New York, the United States, on Aug. 15, 2025. (Photo by Winston Zhou/Xinhua)

The film is based on documented events and follows a group of Chinese civilians who took refuge in a photography studio, risking their lives to preserve evidence of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army.

BUDAPEST, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese historical film Dead to Rights, which depicts the Nanjing Massacre during the Second World War, drew an engaged audience at Budapest's Corvin Cinema on Monday evening.

The film is based on documented events and follows a group of Chinese civilians who took refuge in a photography studio, risking their lives to preserve evidence of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. Monday's screening was also accompanied by a photo exhibition highlighting the atrocities in Nanjing and the subsequent international tribunal proceedings.

Gyula Thurmer, chairman of the Hungarian Workers' Party, described the film as a very powerful demonstration of the heroism and fight of the Chinese people. "The film has really shocked me," he said.

Highlighting that China's resistance against Japanese aggression contributed directly to the defeat of fascism in Europe, Thurmer stressed that everyone should know about the Chinese people's sacrifices during the Second World War.

A person walks past a board of "Dead to Rights" at a cinema in Sydney, Australia, Aug. 8, 2025. "Dead To Rights," a film on the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, was released in Australia on Thursday. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Hungarian historian Arpad Toth said the film resonated deeply with him, adding that the Japanese army dehumanized people in occupied territories, not only in China, but also in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. "History is teaching us how to be human in all cultures. Common remembrance is very important -- to learn what to change and what to keep from the past," he told Xinhua.

Judit Eva Nagy, president of the Hungarian-Chinese Friendship Association, described feeling "overwhelmed" by the film.

While Europeans are well-informed about the Second World War, they know far less about what happened in Asia and about China's resistance against Japanese aggression, she noted. "The movie is important for raising awareness, especially now when conflicts persist worldwide."

Hungarian sinologist Erika Yu-Barta said the screening provided a profound emotional experience. "I've read books and seen old photos, but I've never felt such strong sadness or empathy. This film is so moving that I almost cried several times. I really want my children to see it, so they can learn about history and cherish peace," she said.