Dongji Rescue review – epic tale of British PoWs saved by Chinese fishers gets blockbuster treatment

With Imax cameras and an $80m budget, this second world war epic about the rescue of 384 British prisoners boasts stunning scenes but a simplistic scriptThe sinking of the Lisbon Maru, an extraordinary second world war story in which 384 British PoWs were saved from a bombed Japanese cargo liner by Chinese fishers, has recently been excavated in an exhaustive, emotional documentary. In Dongji Rescue, co-directed by Zhenxiang Fei and Guan Hu, this staggering tale gets a blockbuster makeover that involves Imax cameras and an $80m budget. The film opens with the stunning vista of the eponymous island, then under Japanese control. The seeds of discontent are there, as the local Chinese population are forbidden from fishing. Still, they endure the occupation with grim acceptance.Standing apart from the pack are a pair of brothers, Abi (Zhu Yilong) and Adang (Wu Lei), orphans said to descend from pirates. Their physical prowess acquires a near superhuman dimension as they are shot scaling mountainous terrain and navigating treacherous waters with dazzling speed and dexterity. When Adang comes upon a British PoW adrift at sea, his discovery and sheltering of the unfortunate man triggers an escalation of violence from the Japanese, which ultimately leads to the famed rescue mission. Continue reading...

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