This is a fictionalized account of the sinking of the Lisbon Maru off the coast of China in 1942.. The ship was being used by the Japanese to move prisoners of war taken during the Battle of Hong Kong. The ship was not marked as carrying prisoners so an American submarine thought it was fair game and fired a torpedo. As the ship began to sink the Japanese sealed the prisoners in and then fled, machine gunning anyone who made it on deck. The sailors from a near by island rushed to aid the sailors trapped in the ship and managed to rescue almost 400 men. This film focuses on two brothers who live on the island, which is under Japanese control, and their part in the events.
This is a great looking film. If you can see the film on the big screen, do so since the underwater sequences and the actual sinking sequence which runs the better part of the final 90 minutes is spectacular. Trust me, you will get carried along with what is happening. This is what big screen movie going is all about.
While the actual sinking sequence is great the earlier section of the film is just okay. Actually, it is better than okay, it just pales compared to the long amazing final sequence. The trouble is that the film doesn't really have characters. Yes, we are focused on the two brothers who get mixed up in the events, but they aren't particularly well drawn. There is a shorthand to their construction. It's something that prevents us from truly connecting on real level. But you won't care because the sinking/rescue is so well done.
This isn't to say the film is bad. It's not. This is kind of like a Chinese version of one of the big American blockbusters which are all motion and little else, though this one has the weight of history behind it. It definitely is a must see for the sinking sequence.
(Note: I do recommend that if you are interested in the full story of what happened you do some research. There is a lot more to the story that the film doesn't fully cover.)
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