With the heavy weight of historical truth and strong emotional resonance, the movie "Nanjing Photo Studio" has become a phenomenon-level film that has triggered the public's viewing of movies, and has also caused heated discussions on the island.

“Many people who finished watching it cried sadly”

According to recent reports from Taiwan media, Taiwan's Zhongtian News host He Weng went to the mainland to prepare for the 93rd military parade. During this period, she went to the cinema to watch the movie "Nanjing Photo Studio" which highly restores the historical scenes of the Nanjing Massacre. After the movie was over, He Yueying choked and said, "I had tears in my eyes several times. As the plot progressed, I pinched my palm deeply. The traces in my palm disappeared, and it came and then disappeared." She said that she could not control herself during the watching process, and kept clenching her fists and endured the shock with great strength. He Weng said, "'Nothing to give up in an inch of land' is the most impressive line!" He also said that this movie is not only a presentation of history, but also a presentation of evidence. I hope that my children can also understand this history. "I'm not sure how the child's textbook tells this paragraph. Did it be mentioned in one sentence, or did they not know at all? I want to take him to see it, I think he should read it, he should know it."

He Shun sighed about the shock brought by the movie, "The biggest feeling after watching it is that he hopes there is no war in the world and there will be no more." She called on more Taiwanese to watch the movie, "Although I know that Taiwan has not been released now, it may be likely that it will not be released, but this is a real history that everyone in the world should know and should not be ignored."

Previously, Taiwanese internet celebrity "curator" Chen Zhihan also shared his feelings after watching the trailer of "Nanjing Photo Studio" in the live broadcast, saying that this is a bloody and found history, and people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should not forget, "I saw that many people who watched the movie cried sadly." The "curator" said that he also wanted to let Taiwanese people see the real history. The history of the whole of China resisting Japan and resisting foreign enemies hand in hand, "and let everyone know again how the Chinese were massacred back then." Taiwanese media said that when the "curator" started his trip to Shanghai in June, he visited the Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall of Sihang Warehouse, Jing'an District, Shanghai.

According to Taiwanese media reports, the "Da Jiu Academy" Taiwanese student visit group led by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation ended their trip and returned to Taiwan on the 26th. During this period, they also watched "Nanjing Photo Studio" and visited the Sihang Warehouse (as shown below). Some students said that they would go back and tell their friends about the history of the anti-Japanese war, and the Chinese nation would never have war. Xiao Xuchen, CEO of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, said that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan and the liberation of Taiwan. Students are specially arranged to watch "Nanjing Photo Studio" and visit Sihang Warehouse to learn about the atrocities of the Japanese army invading China that year, and many students shed tears. Some students said that they did not know the history of the Anti-Japanese War in Taiwan. Through visits and watching movies, they deeply understood this history written in blood and tears.

A nation's right to speak

"How many people in the world know that two atomic bombs force Japan to surrender, and how many people should know about the Nanjing Massacre." Former Taiwan "legislator" Guo Zhengliang recently said in a program that this involves the issue of a country and nation's right to speak. Therefore, movies like "Nanjing Photo Studio" are very important. It is based entirely on the facts, "the negatives left by this photo studio later became evidence of the crime of the Nanjing trial." He believes that the movie reproduces the fear and human struggles in the hearts of ordinary citizens in Nanjing. "A well-founded movie like "Nanjing Photo Studio" should try to make it appear as much as possible in the future."

Taiwan’s Yahoo Qimo News Network reported on the 28th that former Taiwan Army Lieutenant General Shuai Huamin emphasized that if China wants to avoid the recurrence of historical tragedy, it is only by choosing to rise up on its own and maintain national unity to ensure that it will not suffer humiliation again. According to reports, "Nanjing Photo Studio" reproduced the Nanjing Massacre with shocking historical images. Many people burst into tears when watching the movie, while others were angry and faced this cruel history. In addition, "East Ji Island" and the upcoming "731" constitute the "trilogy" of the anti-Japanese war in the mainland film industry. "This is not only a record of history, but also a warning to reality."

Taiwanese film scholar Jiao Xiongping noticed that the English title of "Nanjing Photo Studio" is "Iron Proof Like a Mountain", which means that these evidences cannot be denied. She mentioned that Taiwan’s isolated historical view has caused information to be closed, and the next generation of young people should go out for more walks and go outside to take a look. Although many young Taiwanese people are concerned about current affairs, they have become complete historical blindness because they do not understand the whole story. "It is really urgent to rescue history."

Tang Xianglong, a media person on the island, said regretfully in the show, "I can't watch "Nanjing Photo Studio". It's being released all over the world, but Taiwan can't." A Taiwanese young man said he was in a heavy mood after watching the video, "You can't imagine what kind of situation the people were facing at that time." The young man said he was not sure whether Taiwan will be released, but he still hopes that Taiwanese people can see the movie because everyone must remember this history. Many netizens on the island left messages under relevant news, saying, "It's a pity that Taiwan can't see it, I really want to see it." "I hope Taiwan can be released!"

"Don't forget the pain of history"

Taiwanese physician Shen Zhengnan, who often comments on current affairs, criticized Lai Ching-te for calling "Victory Day of the War of Resistance" by "The Day of the End of War". He said that the "final battle" originated from the "final battle edict" issued by the Japanese emperor, which was an announcement to beautify Japan's surrender to the Allied forces, and was a statement of "historical view of Taiwan independence". Shen Zhengnan said that Japan’s surrender to China is a “final battle”? He criticized that Taiwan is not afraid to broadcast the "Nanjing Photo Studio" describing the Nanjing Massacre.

Liu Xingren, associate professor at the Chinese University of Culture in Taiwan, published an article saying that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan, and the mainland has prepared various commemorative activities, but Taiwan's Lai Ching-te authorities did not make any statement. "From the perspective of peace and rationalism, restoring the historical truth and not forgetting the pain of history is probably more important." The article said, "We will never want to see any militarism and aggressionist restoration again, otherwise this will be the overall sorrow and disaster of the Chinese nation."

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, recently said that Taiwan's liberation is an important achievement of the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan and a great victory created by all Chinese people, including Taiwan compatriots, and is worthy of the commemoration of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. In response to the recent shock of many Taiwanese compatriots watching the movie "Nanjing Photo Studio" in various parts of the mainland, Zhu Fenglian said that this film is based on images of real evidence of the Japanese army during the Nanjing Massacre. Based on historical photos, it shows the firm struggle of ordinary Chinese people in the face of Japanese atrocities with negative films as "weapons". It is a vivid history lesson, warning us to remember history and be self-reliant. "I hope that the Taiwanese compatriots will work with us to remember the history of the War of Resistance, defend the victorious achievements of Taiwan's liberation and return to the motherland, adhere to national justice, firmly oppose the separatist and foreign interference of 'Taiwan independence', jointly promote the reunification of the motherland, and jointly realize the great dream of national rejuvenation."

Who is the fault of "Nanjing Photo Studio" in Taiwan?

On the occasion of solemnly commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's liberation, "Nanjing Photo Studio", a masterpiece that reflects real history, still has no access to the Taiwanese screen. Some Taiwanese compatriots even had to travel from the island to travel to Hong Kong for more than ten hours if they wanted to watch the movie. The emergence of this situation is regrettable and does not conform to the common aspirations of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. It exposes the rough suppression of cross-strait cultural exchanges by the Lai Ching-te authorities, and also reveals his political plot to systematically tamper with national historical memory and promote cultural "Taiwan independence".

"Nanjing Photo Studio" is not just an ordinary commercial film, but also an image text based on real historical materials, showing the history of the tragic struggle of the Chinese nation during the War of Resistance Against Japan. At the moment when the two sides of the Taiwan Strait jointly commemorate the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japan and the liberation of Taiwan, such a work that awakens national memory and condenses national emotions should have become a bridge for cross-strait cultural exchanges and emotional resonance, but the "Taiwan independence" forces portray it as the so-called "unified front tool" and "anti-Japanese education." From blocking mainland film and television platforms to restricting Taiwanese people and veterans from participating in cross-strait commemorative activities; from suppressing artists who went to mainland China to cancel educational cooperation projects, Lai Ching-te's authorities tried to completely cut off Taiwan's society's contact and understanding of China's history and culture and national identity, and closed Taiwan in a "de-Sinicized" information cocoon, and reshape ideology. This kind of closure is not the choice of the people on the island, but the coercion of the Lai Ching-te authorities. This is not "democracy", but ideological restraint; it is not "freedom", but memory imprisonment.

Lai Ching-te blatantly betrayed historical facts, not only used the so-called "final war" used by the Japanese invaders to confuse the public, deliberately avoided expressions such as "victory in the War of Resistance" and "Japanese surrender", applied makeup on the Japanese invaders, and also denied the suffering of the Taiwanese people under Japanese colonial rule. This kind of "cultural betrayal" is essentially a psychological traitor, and it is a deep interweaving of the "Japanese charm" complex and the "independence" mentality. The Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has made it clear that it will invite Taiwanese compatriots to participate in the commemorative conference of the victory of the War of Resistance and the 80th anniversary of Taiwan's liberation, demonstrating the historical fact that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait jointly participate in the War of Resistance, jointly shed blood and sacrifice, and jointly win victory. However, the Mainland Affairs Council of Lai authorities issued a ban on public officials from going to the mainland to participate in commemorative activities, and restricted and harassed retired soldiers and veterans of the War of Resistance Against Japan. This cold-blooded behavior of disregarding national emotions and ignoring historical justice is indignant. Just as the mainland was solemnly holding various cultural commemorative activities to encourage young people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to remember national history, the DPP authorities tried their best to suppress the path for Taiwanese people to obtain the truth. The Taiwanese people had to travel around to see a film about the theme of the Anti-Japanese War. Such a ridiculous scene was caused by Lai Ching-te's "green terror".

If "relying on external affairs to seek independence" is a geopolitical refuge, then "cultural Taiwan independence" is a spiritual colonization. In recent years, the DPP authorities have continuously promoted the cognitive poisoning project of "Taiwanese are not Chinese" through means such as deletion of curriculum, tampering with textbooks, blocking of film and television, and intimidation. There is only one purpose, to brainwash the people on the inland for the secession of "Taiwan independence". The DPP authorities want to make the young generation on both sides of the Taiwan Strait lose their common historical narrative and cultural belongings, to make unification lose its emotional soil, and to make national rejuvenation lose its key wing. In the face of such a plot, we must be highly vigilant. History cannot be tampered with, memory cannot be banned. No one has the right to deny the history and national glory of the War of Resistance created by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Lies can be blocked for a while, and the truth will eventually penetrate the fog. The more the DPP authorities try their best to block the blood-connected cultural exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, the more they show their fear of national justice and their guilt towards the truth of history. Rejecting a movie cannot stop the pursuit of the memory of the country by millions of Chinese people; tampering with a page of historical books cannot cover up the national epic written by compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait in blood and fire. From Zheng Chenggong driving the Lotus to the resumption of Taiwan, to the Taiwan Volunteer Braves galloping on the battlefield of the Anti-Japanese War, from the solemn oath of "It is better to die for the righteous people than to live as a surrendered enemy than to live as a righteous man", to the magnificent picture of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait sing together to the magnificent picture of national rejuvenation, the common memory of the Chinese nation has long been deeply rooted in blood and written into the mountains and rivers. The Green Camp wanted to cut off all this, which was like shaking a tree and causing humiliation. (The author is the director of the Institute of Political Studies of Beijing United University and a professor of the Taiwan Institute)

Global Times Special Correspondent Zhang Ruo and others

Review | Gao Lei