Intriguing Titanic drama aims to inspire; mild content.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
Scenes of peril and violence include a woman getting beaten by men as she tries to discover the truth about the Titanic's sinking. The tragedy of the ship's demise is at the heart of the story, and there are scenes of people swimming to lifeboats, a sketch of a man who drowned while trying to swim to safety, and general mayhem and peril surrounding the sinking.
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Focuses on importance of having compassion and empathy for others, especially those who might be less fortunate than you are—or hail from different backgrounds. Courage to defend others and fight for the truth and perseverance to find the truth are also highlighted.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Main characters go the extra mile to speak for the victims of the Titanic, especially those who were immigrants and/or of lower class than the richer guests on board who were saved primarily because of their class and status. Sen. Smith and his secretary, Maggie Malloy, combat classism, sexism, and xenophobia when bringing justice for those who couldn't defend themselves. Journalist Alaine Ricard goes through her own trials, including being beaten, to get the truth out to the papers.
Diverse Representations
a little
Most characters are White, but there's mention of European nations that were treated unfairly by the United States, and immigrants from those nations, such as Italy, are depicted as being mistreated. Sen. Smith, Maggie, and Alaine are portrayed as the heroes of the film because they speak for the immigrants, defending them against further mistreatment, but their open-mindedness feels a bit historically inaccurate, given that in the early 1900s, racism and racial violence were still upheld by the federal government. Maggie and Alaine are free-thinking, independent women—but that depiction might also feel somewhat inaccurate, since women faced significant sexism in the working environment at that time, and marriage was still seen as a much more viable option for women. But none of these aspects of the early 1900s are discussed in the film.
Parents need to know that Unsinkable is a drama about what happened in the days after the sinking of the Titanic. The film focuses on characters who stand up for immigrants who were mistreated by and underrepresented in the larger United States, a theme that still feels like relevant commentary today. Characters demonstrate compassion and empathy—as well as courage and perseverance—as they try to find the truth of what happened to the ship in its final moments. A woman gets beaten by men as she pursues the truth, there are some scenes from the ship's sinking, and some characters smoke and drink, but there's very little iffy content overall. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
This movie was captivating and compelling. It uncovers the truth of what happened the fateful night of the greatest marine disaster in history. The acting and historical accuracy was outstanding. I believe it is appropriate for ages 12+. If you are a lover of the Titanic and the history behind it, this movie is a must see!
What's the Story?
UNSINKABLE follows Sen. William Alden Smith (Cotter Smith) and his secretary, Maggie Malloy (Jayne Wisener), as they travel to New York to find out the truth about the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. As Sen. Smith holds an inquiry, journalist Alaine Ricard (Fiona Dourif) pounds the pavement to discover the secrets behind the tragedy.
This straightforward drama is likely to entertain history buffs, especially those who've been entranced by the lore around the Titanic. Unsinkable dramatizes the seldom-discussed days after the ship sank, when the U.S. government held an inquest regarding the tragedy to find out who and what were to blame. The film shows how several people who could have prevented the tragedy—or at the very least, saved more people from dying—failed in their duties. The film gives particular voice to women and immigrants, both of whom were frequently disregarded and mistreated at this point in U.S. history. While Unsinkable's take on the government might be a bit too glowing, given that historical context, it still tries to show an inspiring side of the story. Sen. Smith is portrayed as doing his best to be worthy of his position and give the families of those affected by the tragedy proper closure, regardless of their stations in life. And Maggie and Alaine are examples of independent women—though, again, that might be a bit of a rose-colored-glasses depiction. Overall, though, Unsinkable is an entertaining and interesting look at a part of the Titanic's story that has often been overlooked.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the characters search for the truth in Unsinkable. What methods do they use? Why does getting to the truth matter?
What is the film saying about how the United States treats immigrants? Is that perspective as relevant today as it was in the early 1900s? How do social and class inequity affect the situation surrounding the Titanic?
MPAA explanation:
peril, some violence, thematic elements, smoking, and a suggestive reference
Last updated:
June 4, 2024
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By Monique Jones
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