The 1972 Andes plane crash story is now being retold in the new Netflix film “Society of the Snow.” Directed by Spanish filmmaker J. A. Bayona, the movie depicts the harrowing ordeal of the amateur Uruguayan rugby team and their loved ones who survived the crash. The film is based on a book by Uruguayan author Pablo Vierci, and portrays the real story of the Uruguayan Air Force flight 571’s frightening crash. The crash had 16 miraculous survivors who teamed up to stay alive in devastating conditions.
The flight initially involved members of the Old Christians Club amateur rugby team from Montevideo, Uruguay, and their loved ones, including parents, siblings, and friends. The tragic events eventually led to a fierce story of survival. The plane crashed into the Andes mountains, losing both its wings and tail, resulting in the deaths of 12 passengers initially, and leaving 33 initial survivors.
Two weeks later, six more people died due to their injuries and harsh conditions. The remaining 27 survivors had minimal resources and were faced with freezing temperatures. They resorted to eating the flesh of the deceased members to survive, with the initial challenge of overcoming their reluctance to eat the bodies of friends and family.
Finally, three of the remaining survivors decided to climb the mountain in search of help. After walking for several days, they encountered a man who, after hearing their plight, alerted authorities, leading to the rescue of the survivors. Rescuers airlifted the remaining 14 others on December 22 and 23 of that year. The survivors had rationed few onboard foodstuffs like wine and candy for about one week while living in -31 degrees Fahrenheit.
In his depiction of these events, Bayona aimed to get as close to reality as possible, casting a crash survivor as his own father in the movie. The film offers a portrayal of the horrific events with a focus on the human aspect of the story and the friendship among the survivors. Overall, the true story of the 1972 Andes plane crash and its 16 survivors is a testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable hardship and suffering.