Ajaya Aloukik
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people over the Japanese invasion and the World Anti-Fascist War. In remembrance of this, a grand ceremony was held on September 3rd at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people over the Japanese invasion and the World Anti-Fascist War.
The commemoration is not only about remembering the suffering and sacrifices of the past, but also about reaffirming China’s deep commitment to peace in the present and future.
Prior to this, Japan had been invading and attacking China since 1931, and on July 7, 1937, for the first time, Chinese civilians and soldiers launched a counterattack against Japanese aggression. The Chinese resistance continued for eight years and ultimately defeated Japanese brutality in 1945. On September 3, 1945, China defeated Japan. During this period, China suffered a total of 35 million military and non-military casualties, accounting for a third of the total casualties of all the countries in World War II.
This commemoration and parade aimed to demonstrate Chinese military strength, showcase defensive capabilities, and convey China’s firm determination and resolve for world peace and unity. During this commemorative event, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, President of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping delivered an important address and stated that ‘The Chinese nation is a great nation that does not fear violence and is self-reliant and strong. The Chinese people stand firmly on the right side of history and in support of the advancement of human civilization. They walk on the path of peaceful development and work hand in hand with people from all countries to build a community with a shared future for mankind.’
‘Today we have gathered to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Chinese people’s victory over the Japanese invasion and the world anti-fascist war, while also remembering history, paying tribute to the martyrs, cherishing peace, and creating a bright future,’ said Xi.
China aims to organize this memorial parade to remember history, honour martyrs, wish for peace to prevail all over the world, and a better future for mankind. And, on this 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people over the Japanese invasion, China and the Chinese people are commemorating in various ways and media. And, one of the media is celluloid.
Recently, there is a movie called 731, which is about horrific bacterial experiments conducted by the Japanese Imperial Army’s Unit 731 in Northeast China. And before that, the film called Nanjing Photo Studio was a box office sensation, which was released at the end of July.
By coincidence, this writer, who works on the China Media Group (working at the CGTN Nepali service), had arranged to showcase the same movie, Nanjing Photo Studio (aka, Dead to Rights), for foreign experts. I got an opportunity to watch this film (on 11th September), which is based on the Nanjing Massacre, the most painful and unforgettable tragedy in history, where 300,000 Chinese were killed by the Japanese.
In the meantime, a significant event had occurred in the homeland. After the Gen Z protests on 8 and 9th September (23rd and 24th of Bhadra), the country was in chaos, and the government had collapsed. There were foreign friends in Beijing praising the bravery of Nepali youth, while on the other hand, some were interpreting this event as designed by a powerful nation. It was disheartening to hear of the death of 19 students in the peaceful Gen Z movement. As of today, some 72 people have died in that movement. Additionally, the destruction around September 9, much like the conspiracy theory being heard, was true, and the country was in geopolitical turmoil.
Furthermore, a European friend mentioned that such events have occurred in many European countries, and it could be a conspiracy to create a failed state. A failed state refers to those countries that have lost the ability to govern themselves, have collapsed state authority, are unable to provide basic services, and unrest and insecurity arise. In other words, a failed state cannot ensure basic security and development and cannot effectively control its territory and borders. Following this, there was the concern of external military intervention.
Such rumours have been heard for many years. This time, the situation is almost the same as said. Along with that friend’s words, the picture of Bangladesh started roaming in the mind. Additionally, the damage to Nepal’s market, business and physical infrastructure has raised the question whether Chinese and foreign investment will come to invest now. Currently, an interim government has been formed. Hope that the country will head towards being free of corruption and prosperity.
While the state of the country has been unsettling, it was also a coincidence to watch a film about the atrocities committed by foreign soldiers, the intervention and brutality of the Japanese army against China and the Chinese people.
The Nanjing Massacre (December 1937–January 1938), was the mass killing and the ravaging of Chinese citizens by the Japanese Imperial Army after its capture of Nanjing on December 13, 1937.
And, my first thought was how to see that violence, those sufferings and pain, because I have visited lots of museums and seen terrible pictures and clips about this massacre. The scene, from the movie, will haunt me for several days, like watching a horror movie. But, I was amazed to see the clean (I mean to say) no excessive violence and gore which used to be in war movies, but could feel the suffering and pain every second of the frame.
This, Nanjing Photo Studio, is a war film which portrays Japanese brutality and the horror of the Nanjing Massacre, but not like other ordinary war movies with excessive bloodshed and gore. Instead, the film chose to highlight human emotions, through the photo and photo studio, and this made it more powerful; one could feel the pain without seeing every detail of cruelty on screen. The film is based on real verified images taken during the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese army against the backdrop of Nanjing in 1937.
And, the screenplay and storytelling of the movie are excellent, by linking the events through photos and a photo studio, the horrific and destructive moments of history are shown, and it not only reminds us of the dark history and the brutality of the Japanese but also reflects the Chinese victory over Japanese oppression and the wish for eternal peace. The film was directed by Sun Ao and featured a powerhouse cast like Liu Haoran, Wang Chuanjun, Gao Ye, and Wang Xiao.
Yes, this movie was an emotional journey, a reminder of the importance of remembering the past, and a tribute to the resilience of the Chinese people in the face of unimaginable suffering. This movie succeeded in showing the destruction caused by invasion and war, as well as lessons from the past that we must learn; it advocates peace, and peace is the ultimate goal.
At the end, the 80th anniversary of China’s Victory over Japanese Invasion is not meant to stir hatred, but to preserve memory, remembering history ensures the value of the future, peace and a determination to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
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