For the 25th anniversary of the film titanic and a National Geographic documentary, James Cameron replays the raft scene, to scientifically determine whether or not Jack could have survived with Rose.
Twenty-five years that we bathe him with this story of the raft. James Cameron, who is not one to let things go, re-enacted the scene of the raft, to determine once and for all if Jack could have climbed on the makeshift boat with Rose, and survived. Conclusion, under certain conditions the character played by Leonardo DiCaprio could have survived the sinking and climbed onto the raft.
The reconstruction, shot as part of a documentary for National Geographic entitled Titanic; 25 years later with James Cameron, is not the first of its kind. But this time, it’s James Cameron himself, who is leading the experiment.
“Violent tremors”
Surrounded by a team of scientists, and with the help of two stuntmen, the filmmaker therefore recreated, in realistic conditions – that is to say in icy water – the scene of the film. Studying several scenarios, James Cameron ended up recognizing that “out of the water, and aided by violent tremors, he [Jack] could have lasted quite a long time, several hours”.
In another scenario, the stuntmen are subjected to the same attacks as the characters in the film. A third protagonist attempts to sink Rose, and Jack must come to her aid and fight. Rose and Jack end up both getting on the raft, and Rose offers Jack her life jacket. Under these conditions, “he could have survived until the arrival of the lifeboat”, indicates Cameron.
“Jack could have lived, but there are a lot of variables,” admits James Cameron, who adds “I don’t think he would have done anything that could have jeopardized her. And that’s 100% in the character of the character”.
Already last December, James Cameron spoke about this reconstitution in the columns of the Toronto Sunand ensured exactly the opposite: only one of the two could survive.
“It’s like Romeo and Juliet”
And that, in any case, for romantic and screenplay reasons, the love story of Jack and Rose could not have a “happy ending”.
“No, he had to die. It’s like Romeo and Juliet. It’s a film about love, sacrifice and mortality. Love is measured by sacrifice,” he hammered.
The story of Jack, Rose and the Square on the Wooden Door has been stirring fans for years. Several of them, including scientists, have even ventured to reconstruct the scene, to try to find a happier ending. Celine Dion defended Cameron’s theory in 2019 – “maybe he doesn’t have the strength to get on it” – and Kate Winslet, who plays Rose, estimated in 2017 that he could have held on. the raft.
The documentary Titanic: 25 Years later with James Cameron airs February 5 on the National Geographic Channel. Maybe he will finally be able to put an end to fan speculation and complaints.
