Guan Hu’s absolutely smashing it after Black Dog nabbed the Un Certain Regard prize at Cannes 2024, and now he’s gone and dropped a proper monster of a project: Dong Ji Island, a £65 million ($80 million) WWII epic that’s got the Cannes Film Market going mental. Announced via Variety, this massive flick, co-directed with Fei Zhenxiang, dives into the true story of Chinese islanders putting it all on the line to save British POWs from a sinking Japanese ship in 1942. With Seventh Art Pictures flogging it to international buyers, Dong Ji Island is looking like a right corker, mixing Guan’s knack for proper heartfelt stories with huge, cinematic battles. Here’s why everyone’s losing their minds over this film and what it means for Guan’s cracking run.
From Scruffy Dogs to War Legends
Guan Hu’s been on a roll. Black Dog, a dead sweet film about an ex-con (Eddie Peng) palling up with a stray mutt in a knackered Chinese town, stole the show at Cannes and pulled in over £1.9 million ($2.4 million) in China in just two days. The Guardian raved about its “heartfelt redemption vibe,” and it wowed punters at festivals from Tokyo to Red Sea. Now, Guan’s flipping the script with Dong Ji Island, a WWII epic that’s a world away from Black Dog’s dusty desert feels but still has his trademark: people finding their spark in the grimmest moments.
Co-directed with Fei Zhenxiang—Guan’s old mate from Mr. Six and telly bangers like Love Like the Galaxy—the film’s based on the 1942 sinking of the Lisbon Maru, a Japanese ship accidentally torpedoed while carrying British POWs. It’s the same real-life drama as the Oscar-submitted doc The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru, following local islanders braving mental seas and Japanese forces to save the trapped lads. Variety calls it a “gripping rescue mission,” and with a £65 million budget, expect proper stunning naval scraps and moments that’ll have you welling up.
Why This Is Going to Be Huge
Guan’s no stranger to war films—his 2020 hit The Eight Hundred was the year’s top live-action flick, raking in over £373 million ($460 million). But Dong Ji Island is a whole new level of epic. Produced by Liang Jing, a former actress and Seventh Art Pictures bigwig who’s backed Guan’s best stuff, this one’s got the cash for massive sets and proper slick production. With Shanghai Tao Piao Piao Movie & TV Culture and Beijing Enlight Pictures chucking in support, it’s set for a China release later in 2025, and there’s a 17-minute teaser screening for buyers at Cannes on 14 May.
The story’s a dead cert to pull in crowds everywhere—normal folk going all-in against bonkers odds, rooted in a WWII tale most haven’t clocked. The Lisbon Maru rescue, where Chinese fishermen saved hundreds of British POWs, mixes local grit with a global heart, perfect for hitting screens worldwide. Guan, repped by UTA, knows how to blend big action with proper emotional punches, and Fei’s telly nous should keep the tale tight. This could be a film that gets everyone cheering.
Guan’s Winning Streak and Cannes Buzz
Guan’s having a belter of a time. On top of Black Dog, he chucked out A Man and a Woman, a cheeky pandemic comedy with Huang Bo and Ni Ni, at Shanghai’s film fest in 2024, and he’s already got sci-fi and bookish projects in the works. The man’s a Cannes fave—Black Dog even nabbed a Palm Dog runner-up for its furry star Xin, per ABC News. Now, Dong Ji Island is ready to keep the good times rolling, with Seventh Art Pictures, whose films have made over £810 million ($1 billion), going hard to seal deals.
Cannes is the spot to make a right racket. The 2025 festival’s rammed with names like Wes Anderson and Ari Aster, and Dong Ji Island’s market screening could nab buyers hunting a war epic with festival clout and box-office chops. Seventh Art’s “7 Hope Project,” backing fresh talent behind Cannes hits like Streetwise and A Song Sung Blue, gives them extra cred—they’re not just about splashing cash but making proper films.
Any Worries?
Big budgets come with big gambles. Dong Ji Island’s £65 million price tag is a bit of a punt, especially if it goes too heavy on the patriotic vibes some of Guan’s blockbusters, like The Eight Hundred, caught stick for, per EastAsia. The war genre’s chock-a-block, and while the Lisbon Maru story’s a bit different, it’ll need to shine against Hollywood’s glossy WWII efforts. Co-directing with Fei, who’s more of a telly bloke than a film veteran, might make some folks nervous, but their long history together screams they’re on the same page. China’s punters will lap this up, but global crowds can be a tad fussier about historical stuff.
Ready to Smash It
Dong Ji Island is looking like a proper beast—part war extravaganza, part tear-jerker, with Guan Hu’s knack for real storytelling steering the ship. Its Cannes Market debut could lock in distributors, and with a China release coming, it’s already got the hometown crowd hyped. Whether it’s the next The Eight Hundred or a Black Dog-style festival darling, Guan’s got the magic.
Keep your eyes peeled for that 14 May teaser screening for early buzz. If Dong Ji Island hooks buyers, it could be 2025’s big war flick. For now, Guan’s showing he’s just as at home with epic battles as he is with scruffy dogs—and that’s why we’re all proper chuffed.
