Premiere of '731': A tangible reflection of history that must not, cannot, and will not be forgotten

China

2025.09.18 11:23

On Sept. 17, the highly anticipated film "731" held its global premiere at the IMAX GT cinema hall of the Harbin Wanda Cinema in Harbin City. The premiere, themed "Cannot Forget, Dare Not Forget, Will Not Forget — Remember History, Cherish Peace," initiated a profound historical dialogue transcending time. Family members of victims of Unit 731 traveled from their hometowns to attend the screening, shedding tears multiple times throughout the film. In this movie, they see the shadows of their loved ones and the suffering they endured. "I hope more people can watch this film, remember this history, and prevent such tragedies from ever happening again," said one family member.

On Sept. 17, the highly anticipated film "731" held its global premiere at the IMAX GT cinema hall of the Harbin Wanda Cinema in Harbin City. (Wen Wei Po)

Opening day presales exceed RMB 100 million

The film "731" is set to release globally in many regions starting Sept. 18. According to online platform data, as of 8:08 p.m. on Sept. 17, the opening-day presales (for Sept. 18) of the film surpassed RMB 100 million, making it the first film since the Spring Festival season this year to achieve such a milestone in presales.

The premiere on Sept. 17 saw a full house. The film's creators joined representatives from different sectors of Heilongjiang society to watch the movie and engage in deep discussions. Through the medium of cinematic storytelling, they collectively reflected on the weight of history and the value of peace.

A restrained yet striking depiction of historical truths

"It feels stifling, like a heavy stone weighing on my chest!" This was the prevailing sentiment among the audience after the screening, as the theater remained immersed in an atmosphere of profound sorrow and pain. Yu Bing, a popular online celebrity, told reporters from Wen Wei Po, "The director used a very restrained lens, presenting the state of each victim in an artistic way."

Yu emphasized that the fact that this film was brought to the screen is already more significant than any specific filmmaking method or style. "We need to approach this film with a reverence for history."

Internet influencer Xu Shuai shared that what left the deepest impression on him was the sharp contrast between the brightly lit operating room and the victims' overwhelming despair. "The scenes weren't as bloody as one might imagine, but the director made every effort to evoke a suffocating sense of dread in the audience. I was profoundly moved by this film."

"Forgetting is equivalent to a second massacre"

"After watching the film, I felt deeply indignant and incredibly heavy-hearted," said one audience member during the post-screening interaction with the creative team. They expressed their sincere gratitude to the filmmakers. "I was born and raised in Northeast China and have known about the cruelty of Unit 731 since I was a child. I am deeply grateful to the director for bringing this story to the screen. This history has now taken shape before my eyes, and I can truly see the painful reality our ancestors endured."

The phrase "If you remember me, I have lived" resonated deeply with many viewers. Yu remarked to Wen Wei Po that forgetting is tantamount to a second massacre. Countless civilians and anti-Japanese fighters were brutally stripped of their names and lives, but their stories and this chapter of history must not be forgotten. Yu hopes more people will go to the cinema, so that they will remember this history, refuse to forget national humiliation, and strive for self-improvement.

The influencer known as "Bingcheng Zuoyou Ge" stated, "The suffering endured by our ancestors makes me deeply understand the importance of the phrase 'Our generation must strive for self-reliance.' I hope more friends, both domestic and overseas, will visit the exhibition hall of crime committed by Unit 731 of the Japanese Imperial Army in Harbin to witness and listen to these irrefutable, unforgettable truths of history."

"It was as if I saw my uncle's suffering"

Wang Xuancai, a resident of Sanhe Village in Jidong County, Jixi City, Heilongjiang Province, traveled from his hometown specifically to watch this film, which exposes the scars of history, in hopes of finding memories related to his uncle.

Throughout the screening, Wang shed tears multiple times. On May 3, 1941, his uncle, Wang Zhenda (formerly known as Wang Mingsheng), was taken away by Japanese invaders, and on May 25 of the same year, he was "specially transferred" to the infamous Unit 731, never to be heard from again.

It wasn't until the year 2000 that researchers from the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences found original documents regarding his "special transfer," informing Wang Xuancai's family that Wang Zhenda had fallen victim to the horrific human experiments conducted by Unit 731.

"Watching the scenes in the movie where victims were subjected to human experimentation and ultimately perished, I couldn't help but think of my uncle," Wang choked up as he spoke. "For so many years, we never knew what he had gone through. Today, through this movie, I feel like I've seen his shadow and the suffering he endured."

The film "731," built on meticulous historical research and powerful visuals, vividly recreates that dark chapter of history. For Wang, attending this premiere held profound meaning. "This movie deepened my understanding of history and made me cherish the peace we have now even more," he said. "I hope more people will watch this film, remember this history, and prevent similar tragedies from happening again."

File "731" global release schedule