Li Si Ben wan chen mo

It is quite interesting that it took over seventy years before anyone tried to discover this wreck, but once it was found nestling in the sand it opened up quite a can of worms as we discovered that it was a freighter carrying two thousand tons of wartime supplies and 1,800 British POWs. These men had been ordered to surrender after the fall of Hong Kong and were being taken to "a beautiful land" where they would be put to hard labour. Except, they didn't get very far before the ship encountered the USS Grouper that found the 7,000 ton vessel a legitimate target and holed it with one torpedo. The thrust of this documentary takes us through the next 24 hours as the ship slowly sank and the prisoners were treated as little better than malnourished ballast. Filmmaker Fang Li had managed to track down one survivor from the tragedy and as news of his filming spreads, he makes contact with another living in British Columbia and together they provide a poignant insight into just how brutal the regime that detained them was, whilst making it quite obvious that this is not a subject either feel the need to reminisce about. The Geneva Convention - which prohibits the use of POWs as glorified hostages - was simply ignored and the behaviour of their captors as the boat went down is put under quite an horrific spotlight. It's not just that they were imprisoned; it is that they are left to languish, disease-ridden, in the cargo holds of a ship without food, water, room to move or sleep and even much air to breathe. Worse still, as the vessel gradually disappeared, the survivors in the water were indiscriminately murdered by machine-gun fire. Were it not for the timely and brave intervention of the local Chinese fishing population and their flotilla of sampans and junks, it's likely that there would have been nobody left to tell of this atrocity. There is virtually no archive to illustrate this with, it's left to our own imagination; to the descriptions from the two main contributors and to additional input from the relatives of those who died/survived who reference letters and diaries to paint quite a graphically ghastly picture of inhumanity and of gutsy determination. We also hear a little from the family of the American who fired the weapon, and get some sense of the overwhelming feeling of guilt he felt when he later discovered that it wasn't just the materiel he sent to the depths. It does suffer a little from information overload. There is a lot of text on the screen and I think it might have worked better focussing on fewer families. It might also have benefitted from more engagement with the current Japanese authorities. Perhaps a more full explanation from the Navy or it's embassy in London as to the extent to which this was policy or just individual zealousness or, of course, both? With no one involved left now, this serves to deliver a salutary reminder of just how cruel mankind can be to each other and of the sacrifices people made for King and country on the other side of the world.

This is very moving and brilliant documentary making. What makes me even more emotional is the sacrifice these men made to defend Great Britain and what has happened to our country since then. It's a travesty and those poor men must be horrified what has become of the country they fought for so bravely.

"The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" is, without a doubt, one of the most extraordinary films of the past five years, not just in the realm of documentaries, but in global cinema as a whole. This film is a testament to the power of storytelling, historical excavation, and the resilience of the human spirit. The director, Fang Li, has achieved something truly remarkable: he discovered the wreck of the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese transport ship sunk during World War II, and in doing so, unearthed a forgotten chapter of history that even survivors struggled to make others believe.

The film meticulously pieces together the full story through interviews with survivors, historians, and local witnesses. It's a haunting reminder of how war renders everyone-British, Japanese, American, or Chinese-small and vulnerable in its shadow. The narrative is so compelling and authentic that it surpasses even the dramatic tension of films like *Dunkirk*. Fang Li's approach is not just about recounting events; it's about honoring the humanity behind the tragedy.

What struck me most was the story of "Bill No. 1," a survivor who clung to the hope of living despite the dire circumstances. His determination to survive, even when all seemed lost, is a powerful metaphor for the film's central message: optimism is the only way to confront tragedy. The film doesn't shy away from the horrors of war, but it also doesn't let us forget the importance of remembering. As the film poignantly reminds us, tragedy isn't something to be ignored or forgotten; it's something we must face head-on to ensure peace.

"The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" is a cinematic triumph, a call for global peace, and a reminder that even in the darkest times, hope and humanity can prevail. A must-watch for anyone who believes in the power of history and storytelling.

The most regrettable thing is that this film has its own significance. To document, to not forget-that is its greatest meaning. Do you know what it means in this day and age for everyone to sit in silence until the lights come on? It means hundreds of people who can never return home. It means 'Tell her I've given my all trying to return to them.' It's the gentleness of the Chinese people, the heart-wrenching longing of later generations, the last survivors who never saw the finished film, and the hypocrisy of the Japanese. It's too painful. If it were my father or grandfather... 'The song of humanity is the song of courage.' That song is too painful, and in that moment, the resonance of humanity shines brightly.

Thanks to the director to tell us this history, history cannot be forgotten.

The POWs were all so young, i cannot hold my tears when i was watching the documentary. I cannot imagine how desperate they were and words cannot express the feelings.

Actually anybody knows history understands it's a quite complicated history for Chinese people. That's why the kindness and selflessness of the fishermen in Dongji island China are so moving and inspiring. They could've been killed by Japanese soldiers but still they did everything they could to help the English POWs. Humanity is the only treasure in war.

Hope there's no war in the world and the way from home is not long anymore.