Combining actual accounts by survivors, even in their own voices, with footage from the wreck site, this hour long documentary explores the bow of the great ship.
The submersible Nautile and ROV Robin explore not only the more recognizable areas, but other areas such as the Post Office, third class rooms, cargo holds, etc. They manage to penetrate so deep into the wreck via holes in the hull caused the ship's impact with the sea floor. There is footage looking out of a porthole from beneath the mud line. The porthole's cover still has the White Star emblem fully visible. One of the decaying post office tables wavers in the wake of Robin's propulsion system.
The personal accounts provided include those of Edith Russell, Second Officer Lightoller, Fourth Officer Boxhall, and a few others. They describe their experiences of the ship going down. Lightoller discusses how he'll always remember the color of the sea water as it climber higher and higher on the decks. Edith Russell talks about how she wasn't worried about her life. After all, she was on an unsinkable ship.
The combination of footage and the actual voices of those who were there creates a haunting look at the ship, not achieved by any of the documentaries that use actors to read the accounts. The footage of the great ship is always interesting, especially the parts you don't normally see.
There are a few nitpicks I have of the show. For instance, the narrator claims that the lookout's bell was found in the debris field. In fact, footage exists of the bell being wrestled from the crow's nest, which is in fact what caused it to collapse. Overall, though, the positives in this documentary far outweigh such minor details.
I recommend this documentary to anyone. It is well worth the investment of the short running time, nor does it require any previous or extensive knowledge of the ship's history.
Rating: 8/10
As always, thanks for reading.
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