On October 13th 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed into the Andes Mountains. The plane was carrying 40 passengers and five crew, including 19 members of the Old Christian’s rugby union team.
Upon impact, three crew and nine passengers died. Those who survived the crash were left frightened, lost, and trapped in a harsh environment with subzero temperatures.
For 72 days, the survivors remained on the mountains. During this time, a further 17 people passed away either as a result of their injuries, due to exposure or starvation, or through avalanches.
Of the 16 people who lived, they had to resort to extreme measures to keep going. With food supplies exhausted, cannibalism became the only option.
Directed by J. A. Bayona, and starring Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt, and Felipe González Otaño, Society of the Snow is a Spanish-language drama which tells the real-life story of the Andes flight disaster. Adapted from the book, La sociedad de la nieve, written by survivor Pablo Vierci, the film details the harrowing account of life on the mountain.
From the terrifying crash and the sudden realisation of helplessness, through to failed attempts to attract attention, and the decision to eat to survive, Society of the Snow exposes the full horror of the situation. The film goes into great detail to cover the seemingly hopeless nature of the disaster, and brings audiences as close as possible to what surviving under such conditions truly meant.
Society of the Snow is unsettling, brutal, and almost unimaginable. Despite the stark reality of the story, it boggles the mind how anyone could go through such an ordeal, yet J. A. Bayona puts it all on screen.
The bitter cold, the tough choices, the sense of isolation and claustrophobia, it’s all here. As are the injuries, the frost-bitten faces, and the moments of endurance and existence.
Yet despite this being an all-encompassing account which is likely to shock and unnerve, Society of the Snow is also a mesmerising picture. It is beautifully shot, expertly staged and acted, and is respectful of all those involved in the tragedy.
Some audiences will be familiar with the events surrounding Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, as this is a well-documented story. The disaster has been the subject of multiple documentaries over the years, has been referenced in various television shows, and has been turned into two feature-length movies: 1976’s Survive! and perhaps more famously, 1993’s Alive.
But whether you’re familiar with this story or not, I urge you to watch Society of the Snow. This is a compelling take on the disaster, which is gripping from start to finish.
Bayona handles the material incredibly well, and keeps the story fresh for all audiences. He works with a superb cast, who convey a gambit of emotions and who take the characters to Hell and back.
But the success of this movie isn’t just down to the director and the cast. Bayona surrounds himself with a team who know how to bring this very difficult story to life.
Cinematographer Pedro Luque delivers some breathtaking shots, while the set decoration by Angela Nahum and the costuming from Julio Suárez is excellent. This movie has been meticulously put together.
The film also boasts an effective score by composer Michael Giacchino which helps to convey the impact of the drama, as well as the harsh nature of the story. Giacchino’s score never distracts from the action, nor does it underplay or overplay the severity of the situation, it just acts as the perfect accompaniment to the visuals.
If I have one gripe about Society of the Snow it is the way it swiftly handles the post-rescue story. The film does briefly touch upon what happens after the 16 survivors leave the mountains, but it is mostly a quick wrap-up.
I appreciate there is plenty of material which exists outside the film, which highlights the thoughts and feelings of the survivors post-rescue, but it is a shame this is mostly missing from the film. The movie clocks in at around two-and-a-half-hours, so an additional ten minutes to enhance this area wouldn’t hurt.
However, I understand the main aspect of the story is about the experiences on the mountain, and this is covered in more than enough detail in the bulk of the film. So while I might want more, it’s fair to say that Society of the Snow delivers what it needs to.
If you have already caught up on all of 2023’s blockbusters over the Christmas holidays, and you’re now looking to start the new year with a more substantial film, Society of the Snow is the picture for you. It is a heartbreaking piece, but one which is important to watch, and it is certainly worth the time.
Should you wish to take a look, Society of the Snow is streaming on Netflix from today.
__
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment