In 2014, Chinese geophysicist and filmmaker Fang Li overheard a story about the rescue of a group of foreign prisoners of war by fishermen from Dongji Island during the Japanese Occupation. Fang searched for and found the shipwreck of the Lisbon Maru in the surrounding waters. Eight years in the making, the documentary “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru” weaves together hundreds of testimonies from survivors and their descendants to reconstruct this heart-wrenching historical event. The film represented Mainland China in competing for the Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards and won the Best Documentary Award at the 37th Golden Rooster Awards.

“Human life is like a catfish—always humble and small, yet resiliently alive. Amid the ordinary moments, we hold onto hope for miracles to unfold.” — Joan Chen, Magic Fish From her childhood in Shanghai to forging her path alone in a distant land, from emerging onto the cinematic stage with the film Youth to gracing classics such as The Little Flower and The Last Emperor, actress and filmmaker Joan Chen employs her delicate, vivid storytelling to invite readers into her treasured memories through her autobiographical collection, Magic Fish, during the book talk. Beginning with her personal growth, she offers an intimate glimpse into the myriad lives shaped by the tides of history, revealing a remarkable and profound journey of life—rich with depth, resilience, and luminous grace.