The sea holds countless secrets, but few as compelling as the story brought to light in the upcoming film Dongji Island (东极岛). Directed by Guan Hu (管虎) and Fei Zhenxiang (费振翔), this cinematic endeavor plunges audiences into 1943, when a Japanese transport ship carrying 1,816 British POWs was torpedoed near China's eastern islands. Facing certain death as their captors abandoned ship and sealed the holds, the prisoners' fate hung in the balance.
Against impossible odds, local fishermen from Dongji Island launched their small boats directly into enemy fire, embodying an ancient creed: "Those in peril at sea must be saved." This act of extraordinary courage, forgotten for decades, forms the powerful core of a film six years in the making, demanding monumental effort from cast and crew to resurrect a truth the world needs to witness.
Releasing nationwide on August 8th, Dongji Island stars Zhu Yilong (朱一龙), Wu Lei (吴磊), and Ni Ni (倪妮), leading an ensemble cast in a testament to human resilience.
Anchored in Truth
Recreating this buried history required more than sets and scripts; it demanded pilgrimage. Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang led their team to the actual Dongji Islands, seeking the spirit of the past where the events unfolded. The harsh environment became an immediate co-star. Facing jagged terrain without roads, the crew carved paths through rock and thorn.
To authentically rebuild a 1940s fishing village, every brick and plank had to be hauled manually up impossible slopes, as vehicles couldn't access the location. Nature tested their resolve relentlessly. Ground temperatures soared past 50°C (122°F), torrential rain lashed the island for weeks, and three separate typhoons battered the production.
Yet, the shared mission – ensuring the fishermen’s bravery and the POWs’ ordeal were no longer hidden – forged an unbreakable determination. This painstaking recreation wasn't just visual; it became an emotional conduit. Actors stepping onto the completed sets found themselves viscerally connected to the past, their performances infused with the palpable weight of history reborn through sweat and perseverance.
Depths of Dedication
Dongji Island presented a filmmaking challenge of unprecedented scale, particularly in its extensive underwater sequences. Portraying the desperate rescue amidst churning waves required actors to perform complex, emotionally charged scenes while submerged. Directors Guan and Fei insisted on practical underwater filming, rejecting CGI for visceral authenticity. This decision demanded extraordinary physical sacrifice. Actors needed exceptional breath-hold capabilities and the ability to convey raw emotion while fighting water resistance. International experts deemed it "an impossible task," questioning both the feasibility and the actors' capacity.
Zhu Yilong, Wu Lei, and Ni Ni embraced the challenge without hesitation. Zhu described the agony of saltwater exposure: "It felt like sandpaper constantly grinding against my eyes, but I had to keep them open to act." Wu Lei highlighted the psychological strain: "Just adjusting my clothes and clearing bubbles underwater before a take could take over a minute. The pressure builds intensely." Ni, portraying a character swimming frantically against fierce currents, abandoned safety wires.
Choosing instead to battle the waves unaided, her raw determination left the crew awestruck. Director Fei Zhenxiang observed, "This transcended acting; it became a collective spiritual battle," a shared commitment to honor the ancestors' valor through tangible, grueling effort.
Directors Forging Legacy
The sheer ambition of Dongji Island– encompassing massive set construction, intricate period detail, complex marine effects, and perilous location work – represented a production scale akin to three films. Tackling this monumental project was entrusted to the unique creative partnership of Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang. Mentor and protege for 16 years, their collaboration has evolved significantly. Guan Hu, renowned for balancing artistic vision with commercial success across diverse genres and championing new directors, provided the overarching strategic guidance.
Fei Zhenxiang, fresh off his Best Director win at the Shanghai TV Festival for Mountain Flowers in Full Bloom (山花烂漫时), focused intensely on shooting details and the film's demanding action choreography. Their synergy proved vital. Fei candidly admitted initial trepidation about the project's scope, crediting Guan's unwavering belief: "Without my mentor's encouragement, I wouldn't have persisted."
Actor Chen Minghao (陈明昊) aptly called their pairing "a perfect match," blending Guan's experienced oversight with Fei's hands-on execution. This "one literary, one martial" approach allowed them to navigate the logistical and creative storms, ensuring the fishermen’s defiant spirit and the POWs' harrowing struggle were captured with the fidelity they deserved. Their shared vision ensures that on August 8th, a vital, long-silenced chapter of courage against tyranny finally surfaces for the world to see.
