The wartime drama "Dead To Rights," a harrowing cinematic portrayal of the Nanjing Massacre during Japan's invasion of China, has struck an emotional chord with global audiences, igniting widespread discussion about the historical tragedy.
He Yunlinghao, a Chinese expatriate in Canada whose grandfather witnessed the Nanjing Massacre, was deeply moved after recently watching the film.
The 32-year-old man comes from a family in Nanjing and has been residing in Canada since 2011. Over the years, he has collected historical materials and photographs to tell the local community about the history of the Nanjing Massacre. He has donated hundreds of photos collected by his grandfather during the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-1945), to a Chinese museum.
After watching "Dead To Rights," He Yunlinghao was profoundly affected, considering it an invaluable cinematic work that truthfully portrays that tragic chapter of history.
"China has produced numerous historical dramas, yet films addressing the Nanjing Massacre and other related historical events remain scarce. To have a film centered on this theme provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on this past -- this brutal chapter of history -- to the world through cinema. It's similar to how "Schindler's List" depicted the suffering of Jews in concentration camps," said He.
Marcus Detrez, a French national, was emotionally agitated and choked up after watching "Dead To Rights" last Thursday.
He had recently donated 618 historical photographs collected by his grandfather, Roger-Pierre Laurens. Many of the photos, taken between the 1930s and 1950s, document the Battle of Songhu in 1937.
"My family knew about these pictures. They never had the opportunity to talk about it, neither did they have the courage to do it. Then in 2021, I found the pictures and I didn't have the courage to show them right away," said Detrez.
Last Monday evening, Detrez handed over these photos at a ceremony held at the Chinese Embassy in France. The Shanghai Songhu Memorial Hall for the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression has incorporated these historical photos into its permanent collection.
Nanjing Massacre drama "Dead To Rights" strikes global emotional chord
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
