The acclaimed Chinese historical movie Dead to Rights made its European premiere at the Mathaeser cinema in Munich on Friday, drawing a full house of more than 400 attendees and prompting reflection on one of the darkest chapters of 20th-century history.

The movie, set against the backdrop of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, perpetrated by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II, tells the story of a small photography studio and its patrons who strive to preserve humanity and conscience amid catastrophe.

Since its release in China, Dead to Rights has drawn widespread public attention for its emotional storytelling and historical weight.

Qiu Xuejun, China's consul general in Munich, co-hosted the premiere, saying that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War. He praised the role of German businessman John Rabe, who, during the Nanjing Massacre, established a safety zone and saved countless civilians.

"His humanitarian courage is part of both the memory of Sino-German friendship and the shared struggle against fascism," Qiu said.

In an interview after the event, Bernd Einmeier, president of the German-Chinese Association for Economy, Education, and Culture, said the movie is "very important". "It's also very important for Europe to know about the Nanjing Massacre. Because honestly, most Europeans have never heard about this, they have no clue what happened there."

Gao Ye, the lead actress, shared a video message, saying she was honored to take part in the European premiere and grateful to audiences in Germany for their willingness to "listen to history and remember the past". She encouraged viewers to treasure peace and human dignity in today's world.

Thomas Rabe, John Rabe's grandson, also addressed the audience in a video message. He recalled his grandfather's efforts in Nanjing in 1937-38, when more than 200,000 Chinese civilians found refuge in the safety zone.

Reading from his grandfather's wartime diary and letters, Rabe underscored the responsibility of younger generations to protect peace and care for others. "Peace today was hard-won," he said. "China endured unimaginable hardship to secure victory, and our continuing humanitarian work together makes me proud."

Erhard Rau, chairman of the German Cultural and Economic Promotion Association, said the film should be screened worldwide. "It is not so much about carrying these terrible experiences within us," he said. "It is about what we can learn from them — for the future. That is why it is so important that films like this are shown, so we can connect with the fate of those people."

Among younger attendees, German social media influencer Aaron Zehren said he knew little about the Nanjing Massacre before the screening. "After watching, I gained a much deeper understanding of the tragic experiences of Nanjing's civilians," he said. "The historical facts must be shown to the world."

Diplomats from the Canadian, United States and South African consulates in Munich attended the European premiere, which was conceived not only as a cinematic event but also as a gesture of remembrance and dialogue.

The film will next screen in Italy, the United Kingdom and other European countries. As Qiu noted, "The memory of the past must be preserved — not for hatred, but to safeguard peace and remind future generations of the fragility of civilization."

Xinhua contributed to this story.

zhangzhouxiang@chinadaily.com.cn