Moviegoers from China's Taiwan rush to see mainland hit 'Dongji Rescue'

A film depicting the heroic feats of Chinese fishermen during the Lisbon Maru incident in 1942 opened nationwide on Friday, drawing audiences from China's Taiwan region on the mainland to cinemas on its first day, while sparking lively discussions among internet users in Taiwan on social media.

Many Taiwan compatriots say they were touched by the well-crafted film and the moving, heroic history it portrays. They say the mainland production gave them a glimpse into aspects of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression they had not known before and a sense of the integrity and resilience of the Chinese people – something they believe should be remembered and passed down together.

Lin Wei-kang was among those from the Taiwan region who had been following "Dongji Rescue" since its promotional roadshows and trailers. On Friday afternoon, he rushed to the cinema right after work. 

"The spirit of holding the line and fighting to the death had my blood pumping," Lin said, adding that the movie conveyed the courage and kindness ingrained in the Chinese people. One line in particular, delivered by Wu Lei in the role of Dang, stuck with him: "This sea belongs to the Chinese! What happens at our doorstep is for us to handle!"

"It was really excellent," said Chen Wan-yi, a young woman from Taiwan who already knew about the Lisbon Maru incident. She said the film made every effort to recreate the historical details of Chinese fishermen steering wooden boats through the Japanese blockade to rescue British prisoners of war, vividly portraying the ordinary Chinese people of that era – humble, kind and willing to take responsibility.

Lin Chien-hsi, another young woman from Taiwan, was deeply moved by the selfless heroism of the Chinese fishermen in the film. She said the movie used 1:1 industrial-scale sets to accurately recreate the sunken cargo ship and 20 fishing boats and built an old fishing village from scratch.

According to Lin, the film's application of cutting-edge technology brought the historical story to life, allowing her to sense the Chinese people's indomitable spirit.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. A series of films commemorating the history of the war have been released. Besides "Dongji Rescue," the recent hit "Dead To Rights" and the upcoming documentary "Mountains and Rivers Bearing Witness," set to premiere next week, have all rekindled Taiwan compatriots' passion to explore the historical truths of that era.

Fan Huai-fang, a young woman from Taiwan, said these films stirred a timeless emotional connection in her heart. "It's as if I saw the figures steadfastly standing amid the smoke and fire of war, witnessing the glorious history of all Chinese sons and daughters – including Taiwan compatriots – united in resisting foreign aggression."