The European premiere of the World War II (WWII) film "Dongji Rescue" was held in London on Friday evening.

Creators pose for photos during the European premiere of the film "Dongji Rescue," in London, Britain, Aug. 15, 2025. "Dongji Rescue" tells the story of how Chinese fishermen risked their lives to rescue over 300 British prisoners of war from the Japanese ship Lisbon Maru in 1942. The European premiere of the film opened Friday night in London. (Xinhua/Wu Lu)

The film recounted the story of how Chinese fishermen risked their lives to rescue more than 300 British prisoners of war (POWs) from the Japanese ship Lisbon Maru in 1942. The premiere drew an audience of some 800.

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, China's Zhejiang province.

The story "is very close to my heart, because my grandfather, Thomas Theodore Jones, was one of the survivors of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru," Anthony Jones, chairman of the Lisbon Maru Memorial Association, told a reception before the screening.

"At the darkest hour of WWII, 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 a deep friendship," Chinese Ambassador to Britain Zheng Zeguang said at the reception.

Actor William Franklyn-Miller told Xinhua that he felt a responsibility to share this part of history more widely. "The bravery of the fishermen who rescued the British soldiers shines through," he said.

"I didn't know about this incident at all. It definitely taught me more about it," said Alfie Howis, a member of the local audience. "I think this film will make people more aware of the Chinese contribution (during WWII)."

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. On the main Eastern battlefield, China's resistance efforts were decisive in defeating Japanese fascism and supporting other fronts in Europe and Asia.