SHANGHAI, June 14 (Xinhua) -- "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru," a documentary on the heroic rescue of British prisoners of war (POWs) by Chinese fishermen during World War II, hit the screen on Friday during the 26th Shanghai International Film Festival.
The 123-minute documentary features extensive interviews with witnesses of the incident and their descendants in China's Zhoushan Islands and Hong Kong, as well as in Britain, the United States and Japan.
In October 1942, "Lisbon Maru," a cargo vessel requisitioned by the Japanese army to carry more than 1,800 British POWs from Hong Kong to Japan, was hit by the U.S. army off the Zhoushan Islands in China's Zhejiang Province. Local fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 POWs.
Denise Wynne, daughter of Dennis Morley, one survivor of the cargo ship, was tearful after watching the documentary.
"History should not be forgotten or distorted," said 75-year-old Wynne.
Some family members of the fishermen who conducted the rescue were also present at the premiere, including Chen Xuelian, whose father steered a sampan to rescue several British POWs.
"I'm so excited to see my father's image on the screen today. I'm so proud of his heroic acts," said Chen. ■
