A new film called "Tokyo Trial" is set to hit screens nationwide
tomorrow. The film centers on the trial of 28 top Japanese war
criminals at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East
by judges of 11 Allied Powers, including China, in 1946.
Director Gao Qunshu has included two storylines in the film: the
tale of Mei Ru'ao, the only Chinese judge at the tribunal,
maintains China's dignity and status on the international stage;
and the incredible pain that an ordinary Japanese family suffered
throughout the war.
"The film will hit cinemas this Friday and six major cinema
chains in China will show it," said Gao Qunshu during a press
conference yesterday in Nanjing, capital of east China's
Jiangsu Province.
According to Gao, in previous Beijing and Shanghai releases, 80
percent of the dialogue was in English and Japanese, adding to the
international flavor of the film.
In addition to famous Chinese stars such as mainland comedy
actor Ying Da, the film also attracted US and Japanese actors.
"I had thought Japanese actors would turn down the opportunity
to perform in this historical movie, but they accepted the plot and
delivered professional performances," Gao was quoted by Xinhua News
Agency as saying. "Only a small batch of Japanese politicians are
to blame for the war and Japan's militarism, and a lot of Japanese
people are opposed to the war," said Gao, adding that several
Japanese cinema chains have contacted him to buy the screening
rights.
History experts have praised the film with Su Zhiliang, a
renowned professor in history with Shanghai Normal University,
saying that "this film objectively reflects how justice beat evil
in the military tribunal almost 60 years ago. It shows the
determination of our country to oppose war and seek peace. I will
try to introduce the film into middle school history books next
year."
(China Daily August 31, 2006)
