"Dongji Rescue," now playing across the Chinese mainland, transports viewers to 1942, when the Japanese cargo ship Lisbon Maru, carrying more than 1,800 British POWs, was struck and left adrift. Inspired by this real-life ordeal, the film follows wounded soldiers rescued by the tight-knit fishing community of Dongji Island.
In the aftermath of the sinking, battered survivors washed ashore at a village where women cooked over iron woks by the shore while children peered through fishing nets. Fishermen readied their boats, risking life and livelihood to pull the injured from the sea. These moments of solidarity ignited friendships across cultures amid the chaos of WWII.
The film uses sweeping ocean vistas and intimate close-ups to highlight small acts of kindness: a shared bowl of porridge, a makeshift shelter in an empty boathouse, and a solemn farewell as fishermen returned to their nets. Through these scenes, "Dongji Rescue" honors the innate goodness of ordinary Chinese people and underscores their often-overlooked contributions during WWII.
More than a story of rescue, "Dongji Rescue" resonates as a universal reminder that compassion can bridge even the widest divides. In a world still facing conflict, it invites us to honor everyday heroes who choose humanity over hostility.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
