Dong Ji Dao

Dongji Rescue is a well-crafted production with compelling performances, striking visuals and music, and a clear, engaging narrative. It serves as a cultural message from China to the international community, offering a perspective that differs from the more familiar Western narratives. By focusing on the compassion and solidarity shown by ordinary Chinese people, the film combines emotional impact with historical depth. It is a work I would definitely recommend, especially to international audiences, for both its artistic quality and historical significance.

If you saw Fang Li's documentary from 2023 on the sinking of the "Lisbon Maru" then you'll know it was a freighter travelling from Hong Kong to Japan carrying over a thousand British POWs. It was torpedoed by an US submarine and to say the treatment of the prisoners by their captors was inhumane would be the mother of all understatements! What this dramatisation does is shift the emphasis more onto the brutality of the occupying forces on a nearby Chinese island. There, the local population were controlled by a small garrison and prohibited from taking their fishing boats out to sea. There are two brothers, reputedly with pirate blood, who ignored this ban though and it was on one such trip that "Bi" (Yilong Zhu) and "Dang" (Lei Wu) discover the malnourished and emaciated "Newton" (William Franklyn-Miller) floating on the water. One thinks they should leave well alone, the other wants to rescue the man and after some scuffling and legerdemain, "Newton" finds himself on the island and the focus of a search by the forces now under the command of a particularly savage young lieutenant. Meantime, the stricken ship is slowly sinking and as the islanders can see the smoke and hear the explosions, they determine to set sail against the overwhelming firepower lined up against them, and try to save the people in the water being routinely slaughtered by machine-gun fire. There is a fair amount of CGI here and it's not great, but the substance of the story quite successfully manages to mix the actual history with the courageousness of the fishermen and a little magical fantasy - these two brothers have positively Atlantean diving skills and can hold their breaths and fight the currents formidably - and is consistently paced throughout. The calculating violence and savagery of their enemies is well illustrated here and the two sibling characterisations are engagingly presented as their journey takes them, and the feisty "Hua" (Ni Ni) out to sea and into the teeth of a slaughter. The philosophy of the dramatisation reminded me at times of a bit of "Bridge over the River Kwai" meets "Tenko"; epitomised the oppression faced by a community that probably hadn't changed much in generations and that was in no way equipped to deal with the rifle-armed squad of bullies who took control of their island for no real reason beyond that they could, and that that population was beneath their contempt. It's a bit long, and clearly has a degree of modern-day jingoism to it's style and presentation, but it keeps an important-to-remember story alive, and works well enough.

Dongji Island or Dong Ji Rescue is more than an action-packed war drama - it's a haunting reminder of the darkness that conflict casts over ordinary lives, and a moving tribute to the human spirit that transcends borders. The film does not shy away from showing the cruelty, fear, and moral compromises that war breeds, yet it balances these with moments of compassion, solidarity, and sacrifice that feel profoundly real.

The cinematography is stunning, capturing both the stark brutality of battle and the fragile beauty of the sea. Performances are deeply affecting, with each character embodying the complex choices people must make when survival and morality collide. Most striking is how the story reaches beyond national identity, showing that courage and kindness can unite people even in the most divided times.

In the end, Dongji Island leaves you with both the weight of history and the enduring belief that, even in the darkest hours, the light of humanity can shine through. This is a war film with a soul - and it deserves to be seen.

Before watching Dongji Rescue,I re-watched the documentary The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru-a movie I highly recommend. It deepened my appreciation for the film's historical weight and emotional stakes.

Walking out of the theater, I was left with a quiet, overwhelming feeling. This is a film that demands to be seen on the big screen. It's not a fleeting spectacle but a visceral, textured experience. The visual effects are stunning, immersing you in moments so intense they make your heart race and your fists clench. The pacing is relentless, with conflicts erupting one after another, each hitting like a gut punch. There were scenes where I found myself holding my breath, tears pricking at my eyes.

What truly anchored the film for me were its characters. The director's portrayal of the "pirate brothers"-Adang (played by Wu Lei) and Abi (Zhu Yilong)-is masterful. Their dynamic serves as a thread that weaves the harrowing true story of the Lisbon Maru sinking into the narrative. Both actors deliver raw, nuanced performances, embodying the fear, resolve, and quiet heroism of countless Dongji Island fishermen from that era.

But the film's strength lies in its ensemble. Every character feels alive-flawed, human, and unforgettable. You see their terror and hesitation, yet also their courage and defiance. The director captures the grit and glory of ordinary people pushed to extraordinary acts, refusing to reduce them to mere background figures.

Some have compared this to Nanjing! Nanjing!, but I see no need for such rivalry. Both films are powerful, worthy of theaters, and offer distinct lenses into history. To pit one against the other feels unnecessary.

Ultimately, Dongji Rescue succeeds in its simplest, most profound goal: ensuring this chapter of history is seen, felt, and remembered. For that alone, it's a triumph.

The film Dongji Rescue is a remarkable portrayal of the kindness, bravery, and sense of responsibility inherent in the Chinese people, embodying the true spirit of humanitarianism. As this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the international anti-fascist war, it is our hope that such an outstanding film will help more people understand the sobering truths of history.