"Evil Unbound" to lead September box office ahead of National Day film season

A Chinese movie that revisits the horrific World War II-era human experiments conducted by Japan's notorious germ warfare unit 731 is expected to become the next blockbuster in the country, leading a diverse lineup in the upcoming National Day film season.

To be premiered on September 18, the film "Evil Unbound" recounts the bacteriological warfare waged by Japan's infamous Unit 731 and the inhumane human experiments on Chinese civilians during the Japanese aggression in China.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Films centered on the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression have seen a rise in interest amongst audiences.

"'Evil Unbound' has already surpassed 29 million yuan (over 4 million U.S. dollars) in total pre-sales revenue, making it undoubtedly the most anticipated film of September," said Huang Xuanyu, marketing manager of Omnijoi International Cinema.

Unit 731 was a top-secret biological and chemical warfare research facility established in the northeastern Chinese city of Harbin in 1935. It served as the nerve center of Japanese biological warfare operations in China and Southeast Asia during World War II. At least 3,000 people were subjected to human experimentation by Unit 731.

The film sheds light on this dark chapter of history and the inhuman acts committed by the invading Japanese army.

This year's National Day holiday film season will start on October 1 and features a diverse lineup.

"The Volunteers: Peace at Last" is the concluding chapter of acclaimed director Chen Kaige's war epic trilogy, set in the later stages of the Chinese People's Volunteers to fight the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) , revisiting historical moments.

Fantasy film "A Writer's Odyssey II" blends reality and fiction with gripping narrative and stunning visual effects, with the film promising an immersive cinematic experience.

The animated feature "Three Kingdoms: Starlit Heroes" offers a fresh perspective on the historical Three Kingdoms era (220-280). Combining traditional ink-wash aesthetics with historic storytelling.

Zhuhai and Macao have jointly held a series of activities promoting marine protection in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to mark the World Oceans Day which falls on Monday.

The activities involved people, especially students, to clean up beaches, conserve sea bed and study marine science.

In the waters around Zhuhai's Miaowan Island, a conservation team consisting of divers across the GBA conducted staghorn coral monitoring and marine debris cleanup. Divers recorded coral growth and marine data during the patrol, providing information for nearshore ecological restoration and regular monitoring.

A two-day parent-child study camp named "young ocean guardians" was also launched to extend ocean knowledge to the participating families, and immerse them into coral protection, marine waste management and biodiversity conservation.