The true story of the fishermen from an occupied Chinese island who overcame oppression in order to save themselves, and 300+ British prisoners on a sinking Japanese ship, in 1942.
It isn’t often that a movie makes me emotional, but I’d be a liar if I said Rescue at Dongji didn’t put me through the entire emotional spectrum found within the human experience. The film tells a dramatized version of the true story about the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese cargo liner that was used to transport prisoners during World War II. The ship was hit by a torpedo from a United States submarine who’s intel failed to mention the 1,816 British POWs who were kept in the cargo bays. The film follows two brothers, Bi and Dang, who live in Dongji, exiled by the main fishing village and living away from prying Japanese eyes. They’re labeled as pirates and live fairly peacefully until they discover one of the British POWs floating at sea, Thomas Newman. Newman’s survival jeopardizes the entire island of Dongji, who’s maintained relative peacefulness while under the watch of a small Japanese force. They can either cast him out, and damn themselves for allowing a human being to die, or they can threaten the lives of everyone they know while doing all they can to keep him alive.
The movie is deceptively beautiful in its opening act, showcasing Bi and Dang living an almost fantasy lifestyle. They sail in the waters on their side of the island, fishing and diving to scavenge whatever they can find. The cinematography is nothing short of gorgeous, showcasing a lush island that would be a sliver of paradise if it wasn’t ensnared in a war and occupied by the Japanese. The brothers aren’t the only ones from Dongji who live outside of Japanese rule. They’re joined by Hua, another local pirate who refuses to follow her village’s way of life, and Mr. Chen, a teacher who refuses to teach the Japanese language to his Chinese students. Shortly after the brothers find the British POW, who was blown out to sea after the Lisbon Maru, the beautiful island begins to look less like an exotic getaway, and more like a deceptive Hell from which escape seems unlikely.
Directors Zhenxiang Fei and Guan Hu ease the viewer into the horrors of war, spending a significant amount of time introducing you to a lineup of characters only to remind you that nobody is safe from the violence that such times bring. Both of the directors have worked with one another since 2019, bringing the Candle in the Tomb mini-series shows to Chinese televisions through 2021. Rescue at Dongji marks the first time both of them worked together on a full length feature. The story itself comes from the writing efforts of Shu Chen, Runnian Dong, and Ji Zhang. All three writers have a long list of successful releases in China, but none tell a harrowing story quite like Rescue at Dongji who’s message is fairly simple, albeit profound… Every life is worth saving, even if it belongs to someone who doesn’t look like you, sound like you, or live like you. The language barriers within the movie are a great example of how complicated the situation was for everyone involved. A lot of the Dongji villagers required a translator to understand Japanese demands, while the brothers struggled to understand their British ally who desperately tries to tell them all about the rest of his men who are still trapped on a slowly sinking ship.
Rescue at Dongji isn’t for the faint of heart, or for anyone who thinks real life heroes have plot armor. The writers and directors did a phenomenal job of showing us what good people went through before they took action and pushed back. The film still remains gorgeous and beautifully shot, which I couldn’t keep my mind off of even during some of the more grueling moments. The real reward comes during the credits, which roll alongside footage of interviews done with the relatives of the British who were saved by the fishermen of Dongji. Entire family lineages owe thanks to the people who took action that day, and the film honors them with an honest look at the sacrifice such heroic actions require. The film has quickly climbed the ranks when it comes to my favorite films touching down on the topic of WW2.
Visually stunning, emotionally gripping, and faithful to the true events surrounding the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, Rescue at Dongji is worthy of being seen by anyone who’s fascinated by war stories, or true stories in general. The film is currently streaming, and physical copies are being sold exclusively through Amazon. Be sure to see this while it’s fresh on your mind, as you won’t regret it. As of now, it’s my favorite film release of 2026.
