In 1942, a sinking Japanese freighter near China's Dongji Island became an unexpected test of humanity during one of WWII's lesser-known tragedies. The Lisbon Maru incident, now retold in the film Dongji Rescue, juxtaposes the brutality of war with extraordinary acts of compassion by Chinese fishermen.
Over 1,800 British POWs drowned after Japanese forces barred escape routes during the ship’s sinking. Against orders, local fishermen from Zhejiang province risked their lives to save 384 survivors – a defiance that later exposed wartime atrocities. The film’s release coincides with growing interest in this history, following last year’s documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru.
"This story isn’t about sides," said cultural commentator Min Rui. "It asks what we choose to become when others are drowning: lifeguards or bystanders?" The narrative’s enduring relevance, filmmakers suggest, lies in its raw examination of moral choices under extreme duress.
For historians, the incident underscores China’s complex WWII role beyond well-documented battlegrounds. For audiences today, it offers a lens to reflect on cross-cultural solidarity – a theme resonating amid modern geopolitical tensions.
