The 26th Shanghai International Film Festival kicked off with a powerful start as ‘The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru’—a gripping documentary uncovering a WWII tragedy—debuted at the Shanghai Film Art Center. 🍿 The film sheds light on a 1942 incident where a Japanese cargo ship, carrying over 1,800 British POWs, was torpedoed by U.S. forces near China's Zhoushan Islands. Over 800 lives were lost, but 300 prisoners were heroically rescued by local Chinese fishermen. 🌊✨
Director Fang Li spent seven years interviewing 100+ descendants of survivors and rescuers, weaving a narrative that highlights wartime atrocities, human resilience, and cross-cultural bravery. ‘We wanted to honor both the victims and the heroes history forgot,’ Fang told press after the screening. 🎬
The documentary not only revisits a dark chapter but also celebrates the humanity that emerged from chaos—a theme resonating deeply with today’s global audiences. 🇨🇳🤝🇬🇧
