A community in Fray Bentos, Uruguay is earning high praise for its accurate portrayal of the devastating 1972 Andes plane crash involving a Uruguayan rugby team. The new Netflix drama, “Society of the Snow,” directed by J.A. Bayona, tells the harrowing story of the survivors’ 72-day ordeal after the tragic crash in the Andes mountains. Over 3 months, the survivors faced freezing temperatures, avalanches, and the grim reality of having to consume the flesh of their deceased teammates in order to survive. Based on the book by Pablo Vierci, the chilling recreation of the disaster has earned accolades from the survivors themselves.
The screenplay for “Society of the Snow” is based on first-hand interviews with the survivors conducted by Vierci, who almost joined the rugby team on their ill-fated flight. Additionally, director J.A. Bayona revealed that the cast and crew traveled to the Andes mountains multiple times to shoot the film, aiming for a comprehensive understanding of the tragic context. Furthermore, Bayona emphasized the importance of accurately portraying the survivors’ experiences by consulting with them throughout the filming process.
Before the movie’s premiere on Netflix, Bayona gave the survivors an early screening of “Society of the Snow.” The unanimous approval from the survivors indicated their satisfaction with the film’s faithful representation of the reality they faced. Dr. Roberto Canessa, one of the survivors, praised the film’s accuracy, expressing how it transported him back to the traumatic experience of the crash. This poignant response reflects the emotional impact of the movie’s close alignment with the survivors’ recollections.
All in all, “Society of the Snow” has garnered acclaim for its truthful and haunting depiction of the 1972 Andes plane crash, offering a poignant portrayal that resonates with the survivors’ experiences and memories.