‘Dongji Rescue’ Sails to European Cinemas
Epic WWII Drama Recounts Lisbon Maru Tragedy and Chinese Heroism
A gripping tale of wartime bravery and one of the Pacific Theater’s deadliest maritime disasters is set to captivate European audiences. Director **Guan Hu**’s ambitious WWII epic, “Dongji Rescue,” chronicling the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, has secured distribution across the continent.
A Harrowing Historical Account
The film meticulously dramatizes the 1942 torpedoing of the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese vessel transporting nearly 1,800 British prisoners of war. Mistakenly struck by an American submarine off China’s Dongji Island, the disaster saw over 800 survivors rescued by courageous Chinese fishermen, a testament to extraordinary wartime valor.
Technical Spectacle and Emotional Depth
Costing an estimated $80 million and co-directed by **Guan Hu** and **Fei Zhenxiang**, “Dongji Rescue” is lauded as one of China’s most technically advanced cinematic productions. Filmed in IMAX, with over 40% of its runtime set underwater, the film utilized advanced robotics and full-scale ship replicas to authentically recreate the era and the harrowing events.
European Distribution and Premiere
British distributor Trinity CineAsia has acquired regional rights, planning a U.K. and Ireland release on August 22, followed by other European territories from August 29. A special U.K. premiere is scheduled for August 15 at London’s Odeon Leicester Square, marking the 80th anniversary of V-J Day, with the film’s directors, producers, and principal cast expected to attend.
“’Dongji Rescue’ is based on a true story which has particular relevance in the U.K., of course, as it involves British POWs in a desperate shipwreck, but also a specific resonance that can connect with everyone everywhere — a humanistic, intimate story on a large historic canvas, a la ‘Dunkirk’ or ‘Atonement,’ and we’re looking forward to audiences being wowed and moved to tears at the same time.”
—Cedric Behrel, Executive Director of Trinity CineAsia
A Story of Remembrance and Connection
Trinity CineAsia has a proven track record with **Guan Hu**’s work, having previously distributed his Cannes Un Certain Regard winner “Black Dog” and the successful war epic “The Eight Hundred.” This collaboration aims to bring a vital, often overlooked, historical narrative to a global audience.
The film’s cast includes acclaimed actors such as Zhu Yilong (“Lost in the Stars”), Wu Lei (“Nirvana in Fire”), and Ni Ni (“The Flowers of War”). British newcomer William Franklyn-Miller portrays a medic hidden by villagers, highlighting the local compassion that saved lives.
Liang Jing, producer and head of 7th Art Pictures, expressed her delight: “We are delighted to collaborate with Trinity CineAsia—who previously distributed ‘Black Dog’ and ‘The Eight Hundred’ for us—to bring this touching story, buried in the dust of modern history, to global audiences—especially to the British audience, so that the descendants of British soldiers who survived that disaster know: we are still here, we still remember this story!”
The official synopsis details the harrowing ordeal: October 1942, two young fishermen, brothers Abi (Zhu Yilong) and Adang (Wu Lei), defy Japanese forces to shelter a British army medic. Their village’s commitment to saving those in peril at sea leads to a perilous mission to rescue shipwrecked soldiers, a story of profound human connection amidst historical conflict.
While the film premieres in China on August 8, its international rollout signifies a significant moment for historical cinema, reminding audiences of forgotten acts of courage. The bravery shown during the Lisbon Maru incident echoes enduring themes of humanitarianism, seen in modern rescue efforts like those of the Sea-Eye 4, a German rescue ship that has saved thousands of migrants in the Mediterranean Sea since its deployment in 2020 (Sea-Eye).