The film unfolds from the first-person perspective of director Fang Li, who acts as an explorer, leading a team to traverse the boundaries of time and space in search of the "Lisbon Maru" sleeping at the bottom of the sea. This is not merely an exploration of physical space but also a pursuit of historical truth. Through advanced surveying techniques, they successfully locate and image the sunken vessel that carries countless lives and secrets, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent narration.
The charm of the film extends far beyond this. Director Fang Li does not stop at the technical interpretation of the sunken vessel; instead, he focuses the camera on the people and events closely linked to the "Lisbon Maru". He visits multiple countries and regions, including China, the UK, the USA, and Japan, interviewing soldier survivors, family members and friends of the soldiers from that time, as well as experts and various institutions. Through their oral accounts and precious historical materials, he gradually restores that forgotten history.
Amidst the flames of World War II, the Asian people, including the Chinese people, endured the crazy slaughter and inhumane plunder of Japanese militarism. In the film, the director uses static stereoscopic images to recreate some key scenes from that time, immersing the audience in that turbulent era.
The British soldiers on the "Lisbon Maru" were warriors far from their homeland, but after the Pearl Harbor incident, they were caught up in an unexpected disaster. They resisted fiercely in Hong Kong but were ultimately overpowered. They were captured, mistreated, and imprisoned for months. Eventually, they were driven into dark, crowded, and foul-smelling cabins, prepared to be transported to Japan, awaiting an unknown fate. This vessel was the Lisbon Maru—a civilian vessel weighing more than 7,000 tons，carrying a large number of Japanese soldiers and weapons. When an American submarine mistakenly attacked the vessel, believing it to be a Japanese military vessel, the choice of the Japanese army as the Lisbon Maru was about to sink was shocking. The Japanese army had already evacuated the sinking vessel themselves, but they did not organize any rescue for the British soldiers. Instead, they sealed the cabins, intending to let all the prisoners of war disappear with the sinking of the vessel. Moreover, they arranged for soldiers ready to die to shoot wildly at the British soldiers who tried to escape. Apart from the soldiers who died in the sinking vessel, for those who successfully jumped into the sea, the Japanese army not only did not rescue them but also surrounded them with many small Japanese boats, shooting and suppressing them fiercely. Many British soldiers were killed or drowned. At this moment, the dark side of humanity was fully exposed.
However, in this moment of despair, it was the Chinese fishermen from Dongji Island who lent a helping hand, some of them only 15 years old. They rowed small wooden boats, risking their lives to save 384 British soldiers. Despite facing the threat of raids and village massacres by the Japanese army, these fishermen persisted in treating the British soldiers, providing them with food, clothing, and medical assistance, and even helping them hide. This kind of universal love and value that transcends national boundaries is deeply shocking.
In the director's investigations and interviews, we see photographs, letters, toys, and items that all carry the deep emotions of the soldiers towards their parents, lovers, children, and friends. The recordings of the veteran soldiers and the memories of their families gradually uncover and meticulously present that history to the world. In the film, by having family members read out the contents of the letters or papers written by the veteran soldiers, and seeing the choked-up scenes, the audience is deeply touched. We see the emotions and relationships of the British soldiers in times of crisis. They are not only warriors but also ordinary people with emotions. They resiliently saved themselves in adversity and also tried to rescue their comrades, comforting each other, showing the most tenacious side of humanity.
At the end of the film, as the list of dead soldiers on the vessel, the list of survivors, and the list of Chinese fishermen involved in the rescue slowly scroll, the background music rises, bringing tears to people's eyes. The final sentence, "It is a long way from home," is touching. These soldiers were victims of war, but they should not be forgotten. Their stories, as well as the stories of the Chinese fishermen who risked their lives to save them, deserve to be remembered forever.
"The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" shows us the cruelty and ruthlessness of war, and also makes us feel the warmth and radiance of humanity. In this piece of history, we see the deep friendship between the Chinese and British people, as well as the selflessness and bravery shown by people towards their families, friends, and others in times of crisis. This is a history worth remembering and a film worth watching and contemplating.
延伸阅读：
人际交往：
朋友：
爱情：
学习、工作和生活：
