Chinese film honoring heroic WWII villagers premieres in London

London has rolled out the red carpet for the stars of the Chinese film Dongji Rescue. It is the kind of event usually hosted for a Hollywood movie, but fans packed into London's Leicester Square for its European premiere.

The movie is based on the true story of Chinese villagers who saved the lives of hundreds of British soldiers during World War II.

The Japanese army held the troops on a ship called the Lisbon Maru, which was struck by a torpedo. The villagers rushed out in fishing boats, risking their own lives to help.

"I believe history is written by the people. It is precisely through generation after generation of Chinese people making choices in harsh and difficult circumstances that our history has been written – etched into the very fabric of it," lead actor Zhu Yilong told CGTN.

British actor William Franklyn-Miller, who plays one of the soldiers, expressed hope that the movie will connect with audiences everywhere.

"I think this film is very important just to bridge these cultures, especially in times like these. There's a lot going on in the world. And it just shows that love is human, and that all humans should be kind to each other," said the actor.

The film is full of action but for some, it's deeply personal. Many of the British troops started families after the war, and their children say the incident shaped their lives.

"If they hadn't saved my father and uncle, I wouldn't be here today to tell the story," Gerry Borge, son of a Lisbon Maru survivor, told CGTN. "So I think it's a fantastic story that people need to know."

Denise Wynne, daughter of the last Lisbon Maru survivor, said: "My father fortunately was rescued and he actually lived to be 101. But before he died, he kept saying to me, 'Those fishermen were brave men. They were heroes'."

Zheng Zeguang, China's ambassador to the UK also attended the event. He called on both countries to build on the bond they built during the war.

"We should cherish the memories and carry forward the friendship between the peoples of our two countries," urged Zheng.

"At the darkest hour of the second World War, China and the UK fought on different fronts but shared a common mission: to defend humanity against fascism and aggression. Fighting side by side, the peoples of our two countries forged deep friendship," he added during his speech.

"In this turbulent and fast-changing world, we should join hands to grow the people-to-people exchanges and strengthen our collaboration at the bilateral, regional and global levels. We should work together to uphold the post-WWII international order, address global challenges, and make new contributions to world peace, stability and prosperity."

He also expressed hope that artistic endeavors like Dongji Rescue will help preserve the special bond between the two countries and continue to inspire them to work for the steady development of China-UK relations. 

For decades, the Lisbon Maru incident was a footnote in history. This movie, however, puts it in the spotlight.

Dongji Rescue will be released in cinemas across the UK on August 22.