Mendoza, Argentina – A new Spanish-language film, “Society of the Snow” is generating buzz as a potential contender at the upcoming Oscars. The movie tells the true story of the 1972 Andes plane crash, which has captivated audiences around the world for decades. This tragic event has been the subject of previous films, most notably the 1993 English-language movie “Alive,” but “Society of the Snow” offers a fresh perspective on the harrowing tale.
On October 13, 1972, a chartered flight carrying an amateur Uruguayan rugby team crashed in the Andes mountains, resulting in the death of 29 out of 45 passengers and crew members. The survivors endured freezing conditions for 10 weeks before being rescued, resorting to cannibalism after their food supplies ran out.
The crash occurred when the pilot became disoriented and mistakenly believed the aircraft had passed a waypoint over Curicó, Chile, leading to a premature descent into the Andes. The crash site is located at an altitude of approximately 11,700 feet, near the Chilean border in the Mendoza Province of western central Argentina.
The survivors’ harrowing ordeal of turning to cannibalism to survive in sub-zero temperatures has continued to capture the world’s attention over the past five decades. The story of their resilience and will to survive has inspired multiple adaptations, including “Society of the Snow,” which has been shortlisted for four Oscars.
Directed by JA Bayona and based on Pablo Vierci’s book, “Society of the Snow” has garnered critical acclaim and has been nominated for Best International Feature Film, Best Original Score, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Visual Effects at the upcoming 96th Academy Awards. The film has also been positively reviewed, emphasizing its poignant portrayal of the characters’ humanity under unimaginable circumstances.
“Society of the Snow” was released in US theaters in December 2023 and is now available for streaming on Netflix as of January 4, 2024. The film’s powerful storytelling has resonated with audiences, shedding light on the remarkable resilience and humanity displayed by the survivors of the Andes plane crash.