HONG KONG - The film Dead to Rights, which is set against the historical backdrop of the Nanjing Massacre, was officially released in Hong Kong on Thursday.

Many said this is a film that should be watched with reverence, and it helps viewers understand the courage and fearlessness of the past generations, and appreciate the value of peace and the importance of self-strengthening.

On Thursday morning, at a cinema in Causeway Bay of Hong Kong, many viewers were deeply moved during the screening. Yau, a local resident, brought his son to watch the film. He was worried that the history might be too heavy for a child, but the story of ordinary people in the film kept his son fully engaged.

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"I think that's the meaning of this film, which is to plant the seeds of history in young people's hearts," he said.

Wang, with tears in her eyes, said the film reminded her of the military parade she watched on Wednesday for the 80th Anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

"When a country is weak, it gets bullied. Now that our country is strong, I feel safe and proud," she said.

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Since its early screening began on Aug 28 in Hong Kong, the film's box office has steadily climbed, with daily earnings surpassing many officially released Chinese-language films.