If you’ve been living in a cave for the past few decades, you should know that James Cameron ‘s film Titanic was a box-office hit in 1997! A must-see blockbuster with a prestigious cast (Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet), this film has become a benchmark in historical drama. And of course (or we wouldn’t be talking about it), this film never ceases to allude to Ireland, its history and its culture! Music, Irish characters… The film is deeply influenced by green Erin! But why did James Cameron highlight Ireland in his film? Here’s how it works.
A scene from the film Titanic with Leonardo Dicaprio and Kate Winslet
April 10, 1912 – Southampton. The Titanic, the world’s largest ocean liner, is about to set sail on her maiden voyage to the United States.
On board is Rose, a young woman from the English bourgeoisie, ill at ease with herself and her life, doomed to an unwanted marriage with a man she doesn’t esteem. On board, she meets Jack, a poor artist who has earned his ticket by playing poker, with whom she eventually falls in love… despite pressure from her family.
Unfortunately, on April 4, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg, sinking a liner presumed to be unsinkable. A race for survival begins…
The Titanic under construction – Public domain
When James Cameron embarked on his film project, his ambition was to go big! Grandiose special effects, impressive sequence shots… The idea was to have the most realistic approach!
But to do so, it had to be faithful to the history of the Titanic… and to that of its passengers!
That’s why we learn at the start of the film that the Titanic was built in Belfast. Built at the Harland & Wolff shipyard on behalf of the White Star Line, the liner required more than 14,000 men for its construction!
It’s worth remembering that the RMS Titanic was a big deal for the UK at the time: the British, who ran the shipyard, were hoping to shine for their naval engineering skills. Such a project was the stuff of dreams the world over, and almost seemed an unattainable feat given the sheer size of the Titanic!
That’s why James Cameron emphasizes right from the start that the Titanic is an Irish liner, and that after passing through Southampton (April 10, 1912), had sailed at Cobh (April 11, 1912), a small, colorful and delightful Irish harbor village, now ultra-touristy.
Added to this was the feeling that the liner was home to a community of Irish passengers (historically, it is estimated that 123 Irish emigrants boarded the Titanic, 79 of whom perished in the sinking). The latter seem to be mainly confined to 3rd class. James Cameron portrays them as happy, kind and festive.
The proof is in the pudding when Jack and Rose go out one night and dance to traditional Irish music. All the Irish on the boat seem to be gathered for this festive moment. It’s a unique moment that seems to literally transform Rose, as if she’s realizing that real life can be like a simple, spontaneous Irish jig.
A scene from the sinking of James Cameron’s film Titanic
James Cameron seems to insist on the poverty of the Irish. He presents them all as belonging to the 3rd classes. He presents them as simple, kind and festive. Sometimes they are mothers traveling with their children, sometimes couples, sometimes singles… They all seem to aspire to a better life, eager to start a new life in America.
Last but not least, the film’s success would not be the same without its strongly Irish-influenced soundtrack. A special mention goes to t for the presence of an uilleann pipe in the film’s soundtrack: this typically Irish bagpipe lends the film an unprecedented charm! Not to mention the use of an Irish transverse flute, bodhràn, fiddle and other typically Irish instruments!
Here are the many references to Ireland to be found in James Cameron’s Titanic. These references reinforce the historical aspect of the liner, and humanize the passengers on board a little more… although the approach is sometimes a little too Manichean.
Titanic is without doubt the best film of 1997. James Cameron distills all the ingredients needed for a good blockbuster: a pinch of romance here, a dose of social conflict there, some grandiloquent special effects, a gruesome drama… And here you have a film whose cinematic potential earned it 11 Oscars!
Add to this a promising cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Bill Paxton, Billy Zane… and you’ll fall under the spell of a film that takes you through the historic sinking of the Titanic.
Impressive special effects plunge you into a world of historical veracity. You’ll feel like you’re in the front row, living out your final moments with the passengers.
You’ll see the violence of the impact when the liner hits an iceberg, the carefree attitude of the early days which is later replaced by a new awareness, the insufficient number of lifeboats, the differences in treatment between first and third class passengers…. The panic of the passengers, the indignity of some, contrasted with the courage of other men and women ready to do anything to save their loved ones…
In short, the Titanic film deals with the shipwreck from A to Z, with a particular attention to detail.
Although the love story between Rose and Jack can be criticized for being “stitched together”, it only serves to enhance the terrible drama of the shipwreck.
The story is divided into 2 parts: 1:30 of romance set against a backdrop of social upheaval in a festive Irish atmosphere, followed by 1:30 of final sinking, until the wreck of the Titanic lies at a depth of over 4,000 meters… A classic but effective script that unleashes the film’s dramatic tension!
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