Is "Dead to Rights" a good translation for 《南京照相馆》?

[River Itchen]

“Hi, guys! Dead to Rights is the English title for the Chinese film 《南京照相馆], literally ‘Nanjing Photo Studio.’ It tells the harrowing story of the Japanese army’s atrocities in 1937 Nanjing, where over 300,000 Chinese civilians were killed, and a photo studio’s brave efforts to document these crimes.”

I am wondering if “Dead to Rights” is a good translation.

 

[jutfrank]

Firstly, it's not an attempt at a translation at all. Secondly, we can't properly judge whether it's a good title without actually watching the film, but the expression 'dead to rights' carries the idea that somebody has been caught in the act of doing something wrong, and that the evidence of guilt is very clear, so this seems like an appropriate title given the content of the story.

dead to rights

1. in the act of doing something wrong or illegal: 2. in the act of doing…

dictionary.cambridge.org

 

[teechar]

“ Hi, guys!

In future,
1- Please do not enclose your question in quotation marks.
2- Please do not use any form of greeting at the start of your question. Note also that not all the teachers here are "guys".

 

[River Itchen]

Firstly, it's not an attempt at a translation at all. Secondly, we can't properly judge whether it's a good title without actually watching the film, but the expression 'dead to rights' carries the idea that somebody has been caught in the act of doing something wrong, and that the evidence of guilt is very clear, so this seems like an appropriate title given the content of the story.

dead to rights

1. in the act of doing something wrong or illegal: 2. in the act of doing…

dictionary.cambridge.org

The film Dead to Rights, the English title for the Chinese film 《南京照相馆》 (Nanjing Photo Studio), is set during the Nanjing Massacre of 1937. It tells the harrowing story of a group of Chinese civilians in a Nanjing photo studio who risk their lives to preserve photographic evidence of the atrocities committed by the Japanese army. These atrocities include the mass slaughter of over 300,000 Chinese civilians, widespread rape, and the destruction of the city following the Japanese military’s invasion. The film focuses on the bravery and sacrifice of ordinary people who use the photo studio to document these war crimes, ensuring the truth of the Japanese military’s brutal actions is recorded for history and later used as evidence in war crime tribunals. It’s a powerful historical drama that highlights themes of courage, resistance, and the pursuit of justice in the face of unimaginable horror.