A new documentary film has revealed the “completely unknown” story of six Chinese men who survived the sinking of the Titanic and adds a new chapter to the history of the world’s most famous ship.
With Oscar-winning director James Cameron as executive producer, “The Six” has earned glowing reviews in China and trended on social media.
Director Arthur Jones hopes it will have the same impact when it is screened overseas and finally dispel myths that have endured for more than a century.
For the Briton and lead researcher Steven Schwankert, “The Six” gives a voice, life and faces to a small band of Chinese men who were among about 700 people to survive the Titanic’s sinking in 1912.
Jones said that a painstaking project stretched over several countries and years began as little more than a joke between the long-time friends, both of whom are based in China.
“Steven came to me and said that we should do the Chinese Titanic story with the Chinese guys who were on the Titanic,” Jones, 47, said.
“I thought he was joking because I thought it was just one of those things that we would laugh about.
“I looked it up, and it was true. But initially my thought was: I don’t know if the world needs another Titanic film or another Titanic documentary.”
Jones said they knew they were onto something when they mentioned it to Chinese friends.
“They were just amazed that there’s this completely unknown story from Titanic, it just seemed an extraordinary thing,” he said.
