Dongji Rescue: On the red carpet with Liang Jing and William Franklyn-Miller at the European premiere

Stomach-churning and alarmingly visceral, Dongji Rescue is a tale of resilience and human connections. It’s a fictionalised recount of the sinking of Lisbon Maru, which held over 1800 British prisoners of war during WWII, operated by Japanese troops. The feature serves to highlight the Chinese people who sailed across the sea despite the Japanese blockade to save the drowning soldiers. While the spectacle of the movie focuses on the theme of breaking down cultural and language barriers to help those in need, the true heart of the film is the story of Ah Bi and Ah Dang – two brothers whose actions inspired the rest of the village to help rescue the Englishmen. Action-packed and showcasing the extremes of humanity – between cruelty and empathy – Dongji Rescue, directed by Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang, stars the powerhouse talents of Zhu Yilong, Wu Lei and Ni Ni.

The Upcoming caught up with producer Liang Jing during the European Premiere of the picture. She spoke to us about the difference in humanity – between killing and saving – that inspired her to be involved in the project. She also highlighted the importance of the Chinese fishermen’s perspective on the rescue, and the efforts the directors made in communicating with the actors who spoke different languages.

Actor William Franklyn-Miller, who plays Thomas Newman, also stopped by to discuss the piece at length. Thomas is a British soldier who is blown off the ship and is rescued by Ah Dang. The two men, despite the language barrier, bond and form a friendship that becomes an integral centrepiece in the rescue of the British soldiers. Franklyn-Miller explained his research on the subject matter in preparation for the role. He also spoke about using body language when communicating with his peers and within the performing arts, as well as the impact of the feature’s European premiere being held in London.

Mae Trumata

Dongji Rescue is released nationwide on 22^nd August 2025.

Watch the trailer for Dongji Rescue here: