Dead to Rights is a 2025 historical drama film from China, directed by Shen Ao and written by Xu Luyang, Zhang Ke, and Shen. Set during the Nanjing Massacre, it follows civilians who take refuge in a photographic studio and discover photographs documenting atrocities committed by Japanese troops. The film opened in mainland China on July 25, 2025, and runs approximately 137 minutes. Its Chinese title translates as “Nanjing Photo Studio.” (niuvisioncanada.com)
Plot
During the Japanese occupation of Nanjing in 1937, a young postal worker known as A Chang pretends to be a photographic laboratory technician to survive. He works for the Japanese military photographer Ito while secretly sheltering Chinese civilians and a soldier. The studio becomes a temporary refuge for its owner and his family as well as others threatened by the occupation. (niuvisioncanada.com)
The refugees are compelled to develop film for the Japanese military. Among the images, they discover photographic evidence of atrocities. Their efforts to remain unnoticed consequently become an attempt to conceal and preserve the negatives, risking their lives so that evidence of the killings can survive. The narrative centres on the choices of ordinary people rather than on battlefield operations. (global.chinadaily.com.cn)
Cast and characters
The principal cast includes:
- Liu Haoran as Su Liuchang, known as A Chang, the postal worker who assumes the role of a photographic technician.
- Wang Chuanjun as Wang Guanghai, an interpreter working for the Japanese.
- Gao Ye as Lin Yuxiu, a performer.
- Wang Xiao as Jin Chengzong, the photographic studio’s owner.
- Zhou You as Song Cunyi.
- Yang Enyou as Jin Wanyi, Jin Chengzong’s daughter.
- Daichi Harashima as Ito Hideo, the Japanese military photographer.
- Wang Zhen’er as Zhao Yifang, Jin Chengzong’s wife. (imdb.com)
Historical basis
The film draws on the preservation of photographs taken by Japanese personnel during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Its historical point of reference is the Huadong photographic studio in Nanjing, where the apprentice Luo Jin developed Japanese soldiers’ film in early 1938. Discovering images of atrocities, Luo secretly made additional prints and assembled an album. The film develops this historical premise into a fictional ensemble story; its studio and principal characters should not be treated as a literal reconstruction of the people involved. (ccphistory.org.cn)
The historical album was subsequently preserved by Wu Xuan, who submitted it to authorities in 1946 for use in the prosecution of Japanese war criminals. Containing sixteen photographs, it became evidence in the proceedings against Tani Hisao. The album is held by the Second Historical Archives of China. This history distinguishes the actual preservation of photographic prints over several years from the film’s immediate struggle to safeguard negatives during the occupation. (dfz.nanjing.gov.cn)
Photographs and narrative
Photography serves two contrasting functions in the film: it is used by the occupying military to produce favourable publicity, but it also records evidence that contradicts that publicity. Production publicity presented comparisons between historical, staged “friendship” photographs and scenes recreated for the film, highlighting the manipulation of images under occupation. (doss.xhby.net)
The studio’s role as both workplace and hiding place brings these functions together. Developing images, concealing negatives, and protecting the people inside the building become connected parts of the same survival narrative. (global.chinadaily.com.cn)
Release and box office
Following its mainland Chinese release, Dead to Rights earned more than 900 million yuan in its first seven days, according to figures reported by Xinhua’s Jiangsu service from the Maoyan industry platform. By July 31, 2025, reported admissions exceeded 25 million. (js.news.cn)
International screenings followed in August 2025. A Washington, D.C., premiere took place on August 5, while the international distributor listed theatrical openings in Australia and New Zealand on August 7 and in the United States and Canada on August 15. (global.chinadaily.com.cn)
References
- Dead to Rights | NiuVision Medianiuvisioncanada.com
- Dead to Rights (2025) - Full cast & crew - IMDbimdb.com
- Chinese film on Nanjing Massacre makes US debutglobal.chinadaily.com.cn
- 《文汇报》34年前刊发的《血证》，让《南京照相馆》原型人物“被历史寻回”ccphistory.org.cn
- 南京记忆|与《南京照相馆》一起守护不能忘却的历史真相dfz.nanjing.gov.cn
- 真实的《南京照相馆》！文史资料记载电影背后的故事xinwen.bjd.com.cn
- NJCBA003B20250724Cdoss.xhby.net