The highly anticipated historical film Evil Unbound, which delves into the atrocities committed by Japanese Unit 731 during World War II, premiered on Wednesday in Harbin, Heilongjiang province.
The film, with a runtime of 125 minutes, will officially open across China on Sept 18. Many theaters have scheduled special screenings at 9:18 am, marked with the label "Alarm Bell Rings Forever", symbolizing a solemn reminder of the historical significance of the date.
Theater staff explained that while the film could be shown as early as 9:00 am, the 9:18 am timing was intentionally chosen to reinforce the theme of remembrance. Additional special screenings labeled "Remember History", "Never Forget National Humiliation", and "Strive for Strength" are also being offered, as indicated on ticketing platforms like Maoyan.
In an interview with the director Zhao Linshan, he shared insights into the six years of transnational research that informed the film. He emphasized that lies and deception were central to the horrors committed by Unit 731.
"We discovered through historical materials that lies such as 'health for freedom', 'emperor's kindness', and 'precious food' were used to cover up inhumane crimes," Zhao said. "These lies, however faint they may seem, led to tragic historical consequences. It was one of the darkest moments in human history."
When asked about the timing of the film's release and its intended message, Zhao expressed hope that Evil Unbound would help unite society in recognizing historical truth and promoting peace.
"The investigation into the facts of Unit 731 is only the beginning," he noted. "By exposing these crimes, we aim to bring together people who cherish peace and ensure that this history becomes a shared memory for all nations and humanity."
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