In September 1942, the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese troopship, was transporting over 1,800 Allied prisoners of war, predominantly British, when it was attacked and sunk by American forces near Dongji Island. Tragically, 828 prisoners lost their lives in the incident. However, local Chinese fishermen played a crucial role in rescuing 384 survivors, demonstrating remarkable bravery and compassion.

Fang Li, a 71-year-old filmmaker, first learned about this event in 2014 while scouting locations for The Continent. Captivated by the story, he dedicated years to researching the wreck and its history. Fang emphasizes the bravery of these fishermen, who lived in challenging conditions on the island. Despite their limited resources, they sheltered the survivors in a local temple, providing them with small salted fish and rice. Their selfless actions forged a deep bond with the rescued soldiers.

After years of research, Fang located the wreck in 2016 and interviewed descendants of the survivors. This culminated in the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, which premiered on September 6, 2023, earning a score of 9.3 on Douban(China's IMDB).

Fang said that the human stories and the bravery of the local fishermen motivated him to tell this tale. Their selfless actions not only saved lives but also forged a deep bond between the survivors and the fishing community. The film reflects universal themes of love, sacrifice, and the lasting impact of war on families, honoring the victims while highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst tragedy.

By Yin Haiyue, Li Yuanyuan and Zhu Sidi(intern)/China Youth Daily