Residents and tourists watch the open-air premiere of the documentary film The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru on Dongji Island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province. [Photo/WeChat ID: zjzsqdxq]

An open-air premiere of the documentary film The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru took place on Dongji Island in Zhoushan, Zhejiang province, on Aug 23.

In 1942, the Japanese military commandeered the Lisbon Maru to carry 1,816 Allied prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Japan. Near the waters of Dongji Island, as the Japanese had not marked it as a POW vessel in violation of the Geneva Conventions, the ship was mistakenly torpedoed by a United States submarine. Amid a hail of bullets, local fishermen bravely rescued 384 Allied POWs.

Following the real story told by the people involved, the film uses realistic special effects and animated scenes to vividly portray the brutality of war, the cold-bloodedness of the invaders, and the heroic deeds of local fishermen.

"My grandfather often recounted the thrilling sea rescue, telling us to remember history and cherish the special friendship forged between the Chinese and British people during the war," said Wu Buwei, a descendant of the fishermen. "The kindness and bravery of our forebears deserve to be passed down."

"By screening the film on Dongji Island, we aim to provide an immersive viewing experience, allowing the audience to feel the sea breeze and hear the waves, connecting them more deeply with the story," said Fang Li, the film's producer and director.

The documentary will be released publicly in China on Sept 6.