- Juan Antonio Bayona wanted 'Society of the Snow' to exude realism, so he sought scientific advice to ensure that 30 actors lost 30 kilos within a few months, mirroring the victims of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crash in the Andes in 1972.
“We were able to shoot up to 4km of actual rock and snow in front of us combined with rear screen footage of the Andes for set extensions together with interiors shot on the backlot,” he explained.
The true survival story behind the Oscar-nominated film "Society of the Snow" is almost unbelievable: After a plane carrying a Uruguayan rugby team and its loved ones crashed in the Andes Mountains in 1972, 16 people managed to survive for 72 days, surrounded by snow and ice.
What do the survivors think of Society of the Snow?
The survivors were so happy with how the movie portrayed their story that they even made small cameos. The movie has some of the most anxiety-inducing scenes I have ever watched, with the plane crash scene making you feel as if you were there with the incredible sound and directing.
Since they were very young when the accident happened, almost all sixteen of them are still alive — Javier Methol and José Luis "Coche" Inciarte died in 2015 and 2023, respectively. The survivors met on October 13, 2022, to pay tribute to the victims 50 years after the crash.
Nando made a superhuman effort, survived for 72 days, and found his way out of the Andes, after an 10-day snowy trek through the mountains with his friend Roberto Canessa.
What happened to the rugby team that crashed in the Andes?
Uruguayan Air Force flight 571, flight of an airplane charted by a Uruguayan amateur rugby team that crashed in the Andes Mountains in Argentina on October 13, 1972, the wreckage of which was not located for more than two months. Of the 45 people aboard the plane, only 16 survived the ordeal.
Which is more accurate, Alive or Society of the Snow?
Society of the Snow tells a more authentic and dignified story of the Andes plane crash survivors compared to the Hollywoodized version in Alive. The movie portrays the trauma and suffering of the survivors in a tangible way, making their experiences feel more genuine and relatable.
A survival expert reacts to 'Society of the Snow' and the true story of how 16 people survived the Andes plane crash. "Society of the Snow" is based on the remarkable true story of a 1972 plane crash in the Andes. For 72 days, 16 people managed to survive, dealing with extreme cold, starvation, and dehydration.
The making of Society Of The Snow was “a journey”, taking in a casting call that required sifting through more than 2,000 responses, a seven-week rehearsal period during which the actors connected with their real-life counterparts (or the families of the deceased character they were playing), and 140 days of production ...
Two of the survivors walked through the mountains in search of help for 10 days without anything that even resembled climbing equipment. They travelled 60 km to finally reach the valleys of Chile where a mule driver spotted them on the other side of a river and was able to begin the rescue.
Society of the Snow, inspired by the true story of the 1972 Andes plane crash, captures incredible realism through the use of actual photos and footage, unknown actors, and shooting on location.
The place where the plane crashed was not strategically visible, so it would have been pointless to try to make a fire. Furthermore, they didn't have enough flammable objects to cause such a big fire, which is why the lighter was used for cigarettes but never a signal fire.
Production took the total of 138 shooting days, with its budget reported to be over €65 million. In August 2021, the second unit, headed by Alejandro Fadel, Argentine director of Murder Me, Monster, filmed landscapes in Chile for reference in on-set virtual production and post-production.
Netflix's Society of the Snow might just be the most accurate retelling yet of the Andes disaster – with director JA Bayona explaining that he prepared for the film "like a documentary" and interviewing survivors "for hours". "We did extensive research," he explained during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes.com.
This is not a horror movie. It is based very acutely on the facts that occurred during a crash landing of a charter flight on its way from Uruguay to Chile in 1972 carrying a rugby team and some guests.
Where are the survivors of Society of the Snow now?
Today, in 2024, only 14 of the 16 survivors are alive. Javier Methol passed away in 2015 due to cancer, surviving almost 43 years after the crash. He was 36 at the time of the accident, the oldest of the survivors. José Luis “Coche” Inciarte, died in 2023, also of cancer.
Were the survivors of the Andes plane crash cannibalism?
During the 72 days following the crash, the survivors suffered from extreme hardships, including sub-zero temperatures, exposure, starvation, and an avalanche, which led to the deaths of 13 more passengers. The remaining passengers resorted to cannibalism to survive.
Why did the plane crash in the Society of the Snow?
The next day, Oct. 13, 1972, the plane took off again and was flying through the Andes when the co-pilot at the controls started to descend, mistakenly thinking he'd cleared the mountain range. The aircraft hit a mountain, breaking both wings off and causing the fuselage to slide down a mountain.
Summary. Society of the Snow offers a fresh perspective on the Andes plane crash with added layers of realism, making it a more accurate depiction than Alive. Society of the Snow has an entirely South American cast, speaking mainly in Spanish, which adds an authentic touch to the story.
Fernando "Nando" Seler Parrado Dolgay (born 9 December 1949) is a Uruguayan businessman, producer, motivational speaker and television presenter, and former rugby player and racing driver. He is one of the sixteen survivors of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 which crashed in the Andes on 13 October 1972.
I would live as if I were dead already. With nothing to lose, nothing could surprise me, nothing could stop me from fighting; my fears would not block me from following my instincts, and no risk would be too great.
The farmer was the first person to encounter the Uruguayan rugby players from the plane crash, whose story is recounted in 'Society of the Snow' Sergio Catalán, with Nando Parrado and Roberto Canessa in Los Maitenes (Chile).
