MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay – In the late 1970s, after a plane crash in the Andes mountains in Argentina, the survivors faced a harrowing dilemma. With meager supplies and no signs of rescue, they were forced to make a difficult decision. As their struggle for survival continued, they ultimately resorted to the unthinkable: consuming the bodies of the deceased in a desperate bid to stay alive.
This gripping true story unfolds in the new film “Society Of The Snow,” which breathes new life into one of the most extraordinary survival sagas in modern history. Directed by J A Bayona, the film delves deep into the harrowing ordeal faced by the passengers of Flight 571, including 19-year-old medical student Roberto Canessa, and his fellow survivors.
After a storm forced the group to spend the night in Mendoza, Argentina, the plane took off again for what should have been a short journey. However, the flight ended in disaster, as the plane crashed into the Andes mountains, leaving the passengers and crew stranded in the snowy wasteland of the mountains.
As conditions grew more dire, the survivors made a gut-wrenching choice: to consume the bodies of the deceased in a desperate bid for survival. Over 72 torturous days, they endured freezing temperatures, avalanches, and a relentless search for food and shelter.
Finally, after an arduous trek, two of the survivors, Canessa and Nando Parrado, managed to find help, leading to their miraculous rescue and the revelation of their incredible story of survival.
Today, Canessa, now a leading pediatric cardiologist, reflects on the profound impact of the ordeal and the lives lost in the mountains. The survivors continue to gather every December, honoring the memory of those who did not return from the mountains, and affirming the enduring human spirit that carried them through their incredible ordeal.