Documentary that tells Titanic tale of a Cambridge survivor returns

A documentary that tells the harrowing tale of a Titanic survivor that settled in Galt will have an exclusive showing in Cambridge before the return of the biggest film festival in the region this spring. 

On Feb. 4, the Cambridge Community Players will show the film ahead of the return of the Grand River Film Festival on May 9. 

“The Six screening mark’s our first return in-person events in the city of Cambridge since 2019,” Micheal Clark, GRFF chair, said in a press release.

“As we prepare to kick off our 15th season, we wanted to return to our roots along the Grand River, and the City of Cambridge where it all began. We’re celebrating 15 festivals of GRFF as Cambridge celebrates a huge milestone of their own with their 50th anniversary,” said Clark. 

The Six follows the epic journey of six Chinese survivors of the infamous crash and sinking of one of the biggest ships to sail the seas, the RMS Titanic. The documentary, from executive producer James Cameron, crosses continents to seek, learn and share the true story of the six Chinese who were among the 700 who survived the sinking.

After arriving in New York with the other survivors, the six were subjected to suspicion and slander. Less than 24 hours later, they were forced to the country, and vanished. The film includes the previous untold story of how one of the six survivors end up settling in Cambridge.

The Bing family is suspected to have ties to the Titanic, but which member of the family was on the doomed ship is up for debate. 

Lee Bing who was the manager of the White Rose Cafe in the 1930s was known in Galt for telling his customers that he had survived the Titanic. He is reported to have been around 30 years-of-age by the time he took over the cafe, putting him at around 12 at the time of the sinking. 

Bing’s uncle and Cambridge resident, Coon Bing is the more likely survivor, putting him at age 20 in 1912 when the Titanic sank. The documentary explores the lives and journeys of the two men as the filmmakers investigate what happened to the six survivors of what has become the most famous maritime disaster. 

Cambridge historian and City of Cambridge archivist Dan Schmalz, whose research aided in the development of the documentary, will answer questions related to the Bing family.

The early viewing will take place at the Cambridge Community Players on Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the GRFF website.