Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- tense
- somber
- harrowing
- historical film night
- war cinema marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful, technically accomplished historical war drama whose humanitarian rescue story benefits from strong emotional scale.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Dongji fishermen defy Japanese restrictions and searches to rescue and conceal British prisoners of war.
Local fishermen work together to save more than 300 shipwrecked British POWs and protect three from capture.
The plot foregrounds Japanese control of the island, prohibited fishing, prisoner mistreatment, and coercive searches.
The rescue follows the torpedoing and sinking of the Lisbon Maru and the fishermen's struggle to operate under Japanese surveillance.
Films like Dongji Rescue, and why
The Flowers of War
shared world war ii setting, civilian resistance, historical drama, and humanitarian stakes
Dunkirk
shared world war ii survival drama, occupation violence, and moral courage under military oppression
Hacksaw Ridge
shared historical war drama, civilian heroism, and emotionally charged rescue narrative
The Eight Hundred
shared chinese historical war setting, resistance against occupation, and ensemble sacrifice
Movie Details
- Directors
- Guan Hu, Fei Zhenxiang
- Release Date
- 2025-08-08
- Runtime
- 134 min
- Rating
- 8.3 / 10 (66)
Cast
- Zhu Yilong
- Leo Wu
- Ni Ni
- Yang Haoyu
- Chen Minghao
- Ni Dahong
- William Franklyn-Miller
- Li Jiuxiao
- Wang Yiquan
- Kevin Lee
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Hi-YAH, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Dongji Rescue about?
- Chinese fishermen risk everything under Japanese occupation to rescue shipwrecked British prisoners and hide them from capture.
- What is Dongji Rescue like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Dongji Rescue as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Dongji Rescue violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Dongji Rescue as graphic.
- What did critics think of Dongji Rescue?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a powerful, technically accomplished historical war drama whose humanitarian rescue story benefits from strong emotional scale.
- Which films are like Dongji Rescue?
- Films with a similar feel include The Flowers of War, Dunkirk, Hacksaw Ridge, and The Eight Hundred.
- How long is Dongji Rescue?
- Dongji Rescue runs 134 minutes.
- Where can I watch Dongji Rescue?
- In United States, Dongji Rescue streams on Amazon Prime Video, Hi-YAH, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
