Society of the Snow

Available on Netflix

It’s questionable whether J.A. Bayona’s unflinchingly pragmatic recreation of the 1972 Andes flight disaster is the blithest way to usher in a new year, but you cannot quibble with the technical proficiency of Society of the Snow, nor the inspiring parable at its core.

The film is adapted from a book by Pablo Vierci of the same name, which documents the experiences of the 16 individuals who, against all odds, survived 72 days in the elements, and respectfully seeks to tell both their stories and those of the deceased. It does so via a cast of Argentine and Uruguayan actors (many of which are newcomers), which succeeds in bringing an air of authenticity to proceedings.

Even more convincing is Bayona’s dexterous depiction of the more exact aspects of this ordeal, including the crash itself (which is presented in gruesomely forensic detail), its aftermath, and the extraordinary lengths the victims had to go to in order to survive. Indeed, one of the few issues I had with Society of the Snow is that these moments, despite their innate voyeurism, are few and far between, which means that much of the picture’s near two and a half-hour runtime is comprised of the musings and interactions of its character which, although often moving, do become a tad repetitious.

Nonetheless, Bayona undoubtedly succeeds in doing justice to one of the most extraordinary tales of human survival and fellowship ever told, making Society of the Snow well worth any viewer’s time.