Some historical stories and figures have been so well-chronicled that it often seems like nothing more can be said. From WWII to The Beatles and the French Revolution to Woodstock, the number of documentaries, books, historical dramas, and first-hand accounts is seemingly endless, covering every angle that could possibly be addressed and every character that played a part. The thing about history though is that it’s written by the victors and the powerful, and more often than not there are silent voices buried deep beneath the sands of time. What’s more, when it comes to tragedies, so much emotional capital is spent trying to make sense of the event itself that we often forget to wonder if there were tragedies within the tragedy, muffled cries beneath the anguished screams.
Such is the case with the Titanic, a tale that has been so exhaustively researched and retold that save for anniversaries of its sinking, there isn’t much more to say. That is until Beijing-based documentarian and researcher Steven Schwankert (who also served as managing editor and is a long-time contributor to the Beijinger) stumbled upon a fleeting mention of six Chinese men – likely from Guangdong province – who survived the infamous shipwreck. Now, nearly five years after beginning a quest to find out more alongside Shanghai-based director Arthur Jones, their film, The Six, will hit Chinese theaters, Apr 16.
Set against a backdrop of trenchant anti-Asian sentiment in the US at the turn of the 20th-century, The Six is a comprehensive account of how eight men– Ah Lam, Fang Lang, Len Lam, Cheong Foo, Chang Chip, Ling Hee, Lee Bing, and Lee Ling – of whom only six survived, went from laboring on British vessels to boarding the Titanic as third-class passengers bound for New York and the Annetta, a ship that was to take them to Cuba for work. Against all odds, five of the men were able to make it onto Collapsible C, one of the last lifeboats to be lowered from the sinking ship, while another was miraculously saved, discovered clinging to a piece of debris floating in the freezing Atlantic.
Unfortunately, however, surviving the catastrophic event was only the beginning of the men’s struggles, as when they landed in the US they were denied entry due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Needless to say, the men were able to make it to their intended destination of Cuba, but whether that was down to a rushed and traumatic deportation or the fact that they were pursuing work is up for debate. However, one fact remains: prior to being contacted and interviewed by Schwankert and Jones, many of the survivors’ descendants hadn’t realized that their ancestors were part of such a historic chapter in world events, largely down to scant, derogatory media coverage at the time. Nevertheless, The Six not only ensures that their legacy will forever be remembered but serves as a reminder that no matter how well we think we know our collective past, chances are someone’s story is yet to be told.
The Six will open in theaters across China on Apr 16
