Chinese historical drama "Dead to Rights" has recently been screened in multiple Polish cities including Warsaw and Poznan, striking a deep chord with local audiences who said history must never be forgotten and all countries should draw lessons from the past to safeguard regional and world peace.
Depicting events from the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, the film delves into the harrowing historical events through the photographic evidence of Japanese military atrocities.
A number of Polish moviegoers said the film reminds them of Poland's own wartime trauma during WWII, resonating deeply with their national memory.
"We, as Poles, have definitely been through the same experiences, as we have also gone through a history of occupation and extermination of our population. It definitely resonates with us, and it is also the duty of our generation to find out about what really happened and not forget about it," said local resident Mikolaj Peszka.
Some Polish viewers noted that the film exposes war crimes committed by Japanese militarism, and expressed concern over Japan's recent moves to revise its constitution and lift restrictions on exports of lethal weapons.
Many said Japan's attempts at remilitarization deserve vigilance, warning that such dangerous developments could further heighten tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.
"At a time when militarism is being revived, Chinese society has its own fears, and now these fears are related to Japan's expansion of its military buildup and arms exports as well as the country's position on regional issues. The problem concerns not only China but also other countries in the region, including South Korea which was also a victim of Japanese imperialism," said college teacher Wojciech Nowiak.
"Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has made some shocking and unacceptable remarks. Japan is playing a very dangerous game, posing a threat of war in the Far East," said moviegoer Tomasz Gryguc.
Chinese wartime drama 'Dead to Rights' resonates with Polish moviegoers
Porsche's China CEO Alexander Pollich said in a recent interview that the German automaker will stay true to its brand while balancing localization amid market changes and tense competition.
Porsche, marking its 25th year of entering the Chinese market this year, has witnessed its sales declined in the past four years as international luxury car brands are facing a cooling market in China.
Speaking with China Global Television Network (CGTN) at Beijing's Auto China 2026, Pollich said the brand is insisting a long-term, value-driven strategy to navigate the challenges.
"The market is difficult. We have seen quite a bit of a transition. It affects the entire market, but also luxury segments, so that's clear. But the Porsche strategy is value over volume, so we are not chasing the units. What we want to make sure is that we have a strong brand that people really aspire for. You see here on our booth. It's not only new cars. We also have our race cars here to really show that we have a heritage, we come from the motor sport, [and] we are leveraging the strength of our brand. We want to keep it desirable. I'm looking not so much on the short-term sales volume. We're here for the long run," he said.
Porsche recently celebrated its sports car maker heritage with a video titled 75 Years of Doing Everything Wrong, highlighting the brand’s history of ignoring conventions.
Speaking about the slogan, Pollich said while others may shift their focus on branding amid sales declines, Porsche is doubling down in its goal of providing unforgettable driving experiences.
"We like to challenge conventions. We always do it the Porsche way. We look at the mainstream, but then we decide what is best for us and what is best for our customers. The Porsche philosophy has always been 'form follows function' and try to achieve more with less," he said.
On the Chinese market, Pollich said the company will soon release localized designs tailored to the Chinese customers, while ensuring the brand's essence is not lost.
"It's a very competitive market, it's a very innovative market, probably the leading market in the world. We believe that the competition will stay very intensive. And what we do is basically two things. First and foremost, we respect the needs of the Chinese customers. They are different, they have very high demand, so we cater to them. So in the summer, we are going to launch a China exclusive entertainment system which will really provide them all the features that people want, but the Porsche way. So really focusing on things that you really need. We are listening, we are adapting, but we want to also, by the same token, stay true to our brand, because if we dilute the brand, I think we will also have big problems here," he said.
Porsche China CEO highlights brand integrity amid market challenges
