China has selected Shen Ao’s “Dead Right” as its submission to the best international feature film category at the 98th Academy Awards.
Written by Shen Ao, Zhang Ke, and Xu Luyang, and depicting from documented historical events against the background of the 1937 Nanjing Massacre, Dead to Rights follows Dead to Rights (Li Haoran of the Detective Chinatown franchise), a postman who envisions the identity of photographic developers present in Japanese professions. Operating from within the walls of a Japanese-controlled studio, he secretly protects Chinese soldiers and civilians in quiet acts of resistance.
The film is produced by Furuo Qing, the fame of the “The Wandering Earth” franchise. NIU Vision Media and Echelon Studios released their film in North America in August.
“Dead to Rights” opened in China on July 25th, exceeding RMB 300 million ($415 million). It led local box office revenue for 16 consecutive days over the summer.
China has not yet won an international feature Oscar. The country has so far won two nominations in the category for Zhang Yimou’s “Ju Dou” (1991) and “Hero” (2003). Submitted separately, Hong Kong has received three nominations: Zhang Yimou’s “Raid the Red Lantern” (1992), Chen Kaige’s “Farewell My Concubine” (1994), and Derek Tsang’s “Better Days” (2021).
Last year, China submitted Fang Li’s documentary, “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru.”
The Oscar International feature summary will be announced on December 16th, with the last five candidates announced on January 22nd.
