A poster of the film Dongji Rescue is seen in the lobby of a cinema in Shanghai Photo: VCG

Chinese WWII tentpole Dongji Rescue, set to hit European cinemas this August after its debut at the 2025 Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival and grossing 220 million yuan ($30.63 million) four days after its release in the Chinese mainland, brings more than spectacle by delivering an Eastern perspective that stands out from war films with Western-centric WWII narratives. 

The film is based on the 1942 tragedy of the Japanese ship Lisbon Maru, where Japanese forces sealed 1,816 British POWs below deck. 

After the vessel was mistakenly struck by a US submarine off China's Dongji Island, more than 300 survivors were rescued by Chinese fishermen in an extraordinary act of wartime bravery.

Both Dongji Rescue and Dead to Rights commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War, yet their tones couldn't be more distinct. While Dead to Rights evokes profound sorrow, Dongji Rescue radiates raw strength. 

Dongji Rescue can be seen as a complement to the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru. While the latter focuses on the British POWs' perspective, Dongji Rescue focuses on the unsung heroes: the fishermen of China's Dongji Island. 

These civilians, witnessing POWs dying at sea and their own kin massacred by occupying forces, transformed from bystanders into defiant saviors.

The film not only reconstructs a thrilling sea rescue but also highlights the Chinese nation's cross-border humanitarian spirit and unyielding national fortitude.  

Its most moving power lies in how it fills a crucial gap in WWII history from an Eastern viewpoint. 

On Chinese social media Xiaohongshu, several British users shared that they did not know this history until they saw the poster for Dongji Rescue and started to research the incident

Set to hit UK cinemas on August 22, with other European releases following on August 29 through distributor Trinity CineAsia, Dongji Rescue promises to introduce global audiences to a story long overlooked in the West.  

The film unflinchingly depicts the horror of the tragedy. 1,816 British POWs trapped in sealed holds as the Japanese freighter sank, ignoring the Geneva Conventions. Dengue fever raged, coughs echoed endlessly, and the stench of decaying bodies filled the air. To cover their crimes, Japanese soldiers not only sealed the holds but also massacred Dongji Island residents, including the elderly, children, and a village teacher who was burned alive, merely for witnessing an escaped British prisoner.  

Yet their brutality only ignited greater resistance. The fishermen, unable to stand by as compatriots fell or turn a blind eye to those drowning at sea, rose up. 

Memorable, heart-pounding scenes include A Bi, played by Zhu Yilong, channeling his rage into every strike against Japanese soldiers, and A Dang, played by Wu Lei, diving into the sinking ship to carve a path to survival for the POWs. 

These moments embody the Chinese spirit of "no more tolerance when pushed to the edge," while affirming that humanitarianism transcends race and nationality.  

A post-credits sequence features emotional testimonies from the descendants of the British POWs. 

Descendants of the rescuers recount how every fishing boat was crammed with over a dozen prisoners, the fishermen refusing to abandon any single life. Vinny Morley (daughter of survivor Dennis Morley) shared choked recollections, saying Chinese fishermen were "angels" pulling them from hell.

While Dongji Rescue excels as a historical tribute, it is not without flaws. The narrative logic occasionally falters. 

For example, Japanese soldiers are somewhat one-dimensional, reduced to plot devices; interactions between fishermen and British prisoners feel underdeveloped; and the lead fishermen lean slightly into heroism tropes. Some scenes, overly reliant on melodrama, risk feeling forced.  

Though audiences and critics have clashed over the film's artistic methods and narrative tone, and the film has drawn criticism from some people, they converge on a key consensus: Dongji Rescue sheds light on a neglected historical episode via the perspective of everyday Chinese fishermen.

Nonetheless, the film is a triumph of Chinese cinema, particularly its water-based sequences that account for 40 percent of the film, a record for Chinese cinema. 

The 500 million yuan budget and six years of preparation paid off in breathtaking set pieces, especially the overwhelming spectacle of the thousand-ton vessel sinking. 

Behind these scenes lie 70 days of underwater shooting, a 9,000 square-meter water studio, 16 underwater sets, and the revival of a nearly lost intangible cultural heritage - Zhoushan's traditional boat-building techniques - to reconstruct the authentic 1940s fishing boats and warships.  

As a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Dongji Rescue transcends mere historical reenactment and incorporates the concept of a human community with a shared future into the national narrative.

The Chinese fishermen may not have understood grand notions of "internationalism," but their instinct to save lives epitomizes the purest form of humanitarianism. 

In doing so, the film doesn't just tell a story of the past; it reminds us of the shared humanity that binds us all.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. life@globaltimes.com.cn