A new Chinese historical drama, 731, brings the chilling legacy of Japan’s WWII-era Unit 731 to the screen. Set to premiere globally on September 18, the film immerses viewers in the harrowing experiences of civilians who fell victim to inhumane medical experiments.
Directed by Zhao Linshan, 731 follows Wang Yongzhang, a local vendor, who was lured into a research camp with fake promises of health screenings and freedom. Instead, he and other residents of Harbin became subjects of frostbite tests, gas exposure, vivisection, and more at the secret biological warfare base in Heilongjiang Province.
Declassified documents from Russia’s Federal Security Service reveal that Unit 731 tested pathogen-carrying artillery shells on hundreds of Chinese people to calculate infection rates and even planned attacks on the Soviet Union. These records add layers of insight to the film’s portrayal of real events.
“This is a history that must never be forgotten,” says Jin Chengmin, historical adviser for the production. As head of the Exhibition Hall of Evidences of Crime Committed by Unit 731, Jin emphasizes the film’s role in highlighting both the atrocity and the unyielding spirit of ordinary people.
The premiere coincides with the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the September 18 Incident in 1931, which triggered Japan’s 14-year invasion of China. It stands as a powerful reminder to safeguard peace and learn from the past.
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Film on Japan's infamous WWII germ warfare unit to debut on Sept. 18
cgtn.com
