‘The Unrestricted War’: A Journey From Lockdown to Awakening

A gripping thriller about a Canadian virologist forced top steal top-secret research as a deadly virus spreads in Wuhan.

“The Unrestricted War” is slated for a nationwide theatrical release in Canada on May 16, 2025. Sherry Media Group

“The Unrestricted War,” a feature film inspired by events surrounding the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan five years ago, depicts how the Chinese regime restricted information and suppressed warnings, leading to a global crisis. The film will premiere in Canadian movie theatres later this month.

The fictional story follows Sophie (played by Nadia Hatta), a mother caught between loyalty to an authoritarian regime and the bonds of family. Raised under a totalitarian system that enforced mechanical obedience, Sophie’s internal struggle deepens as the consequences of her mission threaten her own family.

Sophie is married to Jim (Dylan Bruce), a leading Canadian virologist. The couple is arbitrarily arrested by secret agents in Beijing, and Jim is forced, under threat, to steal a sample of his earlier work from the P4 laboratory in Winnipeg.

As the deadly outbreak escalates and people begin to fall ill, Jim uncovers a plot to exploit the crisis for political gain, and Sophie gets caught up in it.

Sophie seems to be the perfect partner to her Canadian husband, but beneath her composed exterior lies a woman torn between conflicting loyalties. Bound by a sense of duty to her homeland yet drawn to the freedom and happiness she has found in a free and democratic society, Sophie embodies the turmoil faced by many in the Chinese diaspora—caught between protecting loved ones still living under authoritarian rule and embracing the values of their new home.

Directed by Toronto-based filmmaker Yan Ma, “The Unrestricted War” offers a rare perspective from within the Chinese community. The film offers viewers a chance to quietly examine the choices they make—not only in moments of crisis, but in everyday life. It raises thoughtful questions: Are we unknowingly complicit in systems built on deception? Do we look away from distant human suffering until it reaches our doorstep?

Beyond drawing inspiration from the early days of the outbreak in China, the film invites reflection on how people living under authoritarian rule can move from confusion and fear to awakening and conscience.

“Making this film took not just talent and hard work, but courage. As a Chinese Canadian filmmaker, I’ve seen firsthand the risks involved in telling stories like this,” Ma said.

“Our team never backed down, because we knew it was a story that demanded to be told. This film doesn’t offer all the answers, but it opens a window to a reality we can’t afford to ignore.”

A Chinese Military Strategy

“Unrestricted war” refers to a real-life military strategy developed by a senior officer of China’s People’s Liberation Army. Unlike conventional warfare, this strategy aims to weaken enemy societies through all means possible, blending into everyday life through infiltration, technology, information warfare, and media manipulation.

The film comes amid findings from sources such as the White House investigative report “Lab Leak: The True Origin of COVID-19,” which outlines how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) suppressed internal and international discussions about the origins of the virus. Despite mounting evidence pointing to a possible virus leak from a Wuhan laboratory and potential military involvement, efforts to question the CCP’s role were often dismissed as “anti-Chinese” or “racist”—both in Canada and across other Western democracies.

For Canadian audiences, the film may strike a particular chord. Over the past two years, headlines have highlighted how Canada has become a target of the Chinese Communist Party’s unrestricted warfare—ranging from election interference and secret police stations to the alleged transfer of sensitive viruses from Winnipeg’s top-security lab.

A Story of Contrast

“The Unrestricted War’ tells a story of contrast, exploring how two generations of Chinese women respond differently when their loved ones face mortal danger. Unlike Sophie, who embraces the values of a free society, General Chen—also shaped by the harsh realities of life under a totalitarian regime—chooses loyalty to the system at the cost of her conscience. Driven by false ideals and personal ambition, she is ultimately discarded by the communist system despite her devotion.

The film is a stark reflection of how 70 years under authoritarian rule has distorted both identity and humanity in China. General Chen’s trauma—witnessing her father’s death during the Cultural Revolution—may explain why she could not choose a different path, as Sophie eventually does. Her past becomes a chain she cannot break.

Today, with greater access to technology and information, the younger generation in China is better equipped than ever to question official narratives. But in the end, facing the truth—and choosing what to do with it—remains a deeply personal test for each individual.

Human Cost

The release of “The Unrestricted War” comes at a timely moment, as more Western democracies begin to recognize that economic engagement alone has not led to political liberalization in China. Instead, there is growing awareness of the human cost imposed by the regime’s actions.

The film offers a powerful entry point for those who have never experienced authoritarian rule firsthand. The character Jim reflects real-life figures like Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor—individuals who became unwitting sacrifices in the CCP’s geopolitical manoeuvres.

Through scenes depicting pandemic lockdowns and flashbacks to the Cultural Revolution, “The Unrestricted War” provides a visceral glimpse into the methods of control used under communist regimes—methods that continue to suppress voices and rewrite truths.

In many ways, Ma’s film picks up where the Canadian documentary “In the Name of Confucius” left off. While the earlier work explored ideological influence through culture and education, “The Unrestricted War” points to a more evolved strategy—one that extends far beyond classrooms and into the realm of global information control and international institutions. This shift signals a changing world order, and in that transformation, every individual becomes like the film’s protagonists: someone who must, at some point, decide what to believe—and what to stand for.

‘The Unrestricted War’ Director: Yan Ma Starring: Nadia Hatta, Dylan Bruce, Uni Park, Russell Yuen Running Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes Release Date: May 16, 2025