Imagine stepping into a time machine and landing in Chongqing on August 19, 1940. That's exactly what the newly restored documentary 'Kukan' offers: raw, heart-pounding footage of the Japanese military's devastating bombing of Chongqing in the Chinese mainland.
At huge personal risk, American correspondent Rey Scott captured the chaos over those two fateful nights. His camera documented everything—from roaring warplanes in the sky to city streets engulfed in smoke—bringing the human side of wartime history into sharp focus.
'Kukan', meaning 'bitter struggle' in Chinese, was made possible by Chinese-American playwright Li Ling-Ai. Filmed across Chongqing, Guizhou and Gansu in the Chinese mainland, the documentary sheds light on the resilience of the Chinese people as they resisted aggression during World War II.
After premiering in New York on June 23, 1941, 'Kukan' earned an Honorary Academy Award at the 14th Academy Awards but was later thought lost. Thanks to dedicated scholars and filmmakers from both sides of the Pacific, the film has been painstakingly rediscovered and restored.
The fully restored 'Kukan' made its comeback debut at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles on June 24, 2025. Now, modern audiences can witness history in its most vivid form—an epic reminder of courage and the power of storytelling. ✨
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Restored documentary reveals Japanese bombing of Chongqing in WWII
cgtn.com
