THE SINKING OF THE LISBON MARU Screens at Select Events in December—by Dr. Laura Wilhelm, LauraWil Intercultural
Chinese filmmaker Fang Li’s two-hour documentary THE SINKING OF THE LISBON MARU is about the 1942 torpedoing of a Japanese freighter that carried over 1,800 British prisoners of war from Hong Kong to Japan during World War II. The film tells the story of the sinking of the Japanese freighter by an American submarine unaware of its human cargo and the noble efforts of the Chinese fishermen who helped to rescue the young British POW survivors.
Fang Li himself led the search for the remains of the Lisbon Maru. A geophysicist by training, he sought out witnesses and writers who could help him piece together the story behind the fabled shipwreck. The film features interviews with two of the last surviving British POWs (now sadly deceased), as well as family members of the lost men.
Rare archival footage and hand-drawn animation sequences contribute to what critics are calling ”a gripping survival narrative.” Already an unexpected box-office success in its native China, the film is poised to enter the global arena.
The fact that the world’s leading Western and Eastern nations–the US, UK, China, and Japan–were involved in the Lisbon Maru tragedy can only increase the story’s interest to audiences across the globe. Terrible technology-driven incidents like these that rouse the heroic instincts of ordinary citizens are what war narratives are all about. The revelation that it was just an accident makes this particular narrative all the more poignant.
Fans of Duolingo will appreciate the chance to practice their Chinese with an intriguing true story that was not widely known. The helpfulness that emerge on behalf of strangers during the biggest war in world history can only inspire greater faith in humanity.
THE SINKING OF THE LISBON MARU was screened at private events in NYC and Beverly Hills in December prior to its nationwide release. Its timeless themes of faith and hope make this war film a surprisingly fitting watch for the holiday season. It’s China’s official Oscar selection in the Best Documentary Feature category. The recent Emmys sweep by the Japanese/American FX historical miniseries SHOGUN may also create a sizable American audience for this similarly fascinating cross-cultural project. Watch for it!
