In the turbulent waters near Dongji Island, part of Zhoushan in eastern China, an extraordinary act of humanity emerged from the horrors of World War II. When Japanese transport ship Lisbon Maru sank in September 1942 with 1,800 British prisoners of war aboard, local fishermen defied gunfire and danger to save 384 survivors – a story now revived through the documentary Dongji Rescue, released in Chinese theaters on August 8, 2025.
Director Guan Hu's team spent six years reconstructing the event through historical records and eyewitness accounts. The film features unprecedented underwater footage of the wreck site and dramatic recreations of the rescue. "This isn't just about remembering tragedy," Guan told KhabarAsia, "but celebrating how ordinary people chose courage over indifference when faced with unimaginable cruelty."
While honoring historical accuracy, the production also highlights Dongji Island's modern transformation into a symbol of reconciliation. Once a strategic military location, it now hosts peace forums and cultural exchanges between China and the UK.
As global tensions rise, Dongji Rescue offers timely lessons about cross-cultural solidarity. The film's release coincides with renewed academic interest in WWII's Asian theater and growing heritage tourism to Zhoushan's memorial sites.
