Society of the Snow

On October 13, 1972, a Uruguayan plane carrying a rugby team crashes into the Andes, leaving survivors stranded in a frozen wilderness. The movie follows the group as they struggle to keep warm, ration dwindling supplies, and maintain hope while rescuers search for them. As days become weeks, leaders emerge and tensions rise, with harsh weather and isolation exposing physical and moral limits. The focus stays on human relationships and decision making under pressure, showing how cooperation, memory, and stubbornness shape who survives without revealing later developments or the final outcome.

Directed by J.A. Bayona, the film is adapted from Pablo Vierci's account and credits collaborators Jaime Marques and Bernat Vilaplana, arriving in theaters in 2023 with a cast of mostly young, lesser known actors.

It drew attention in critical circles and at national film events, earning nominations for direction, technical work, and ensemble acting in its home market, while reviewers highlighted the production values and the director's control over mood.

The movie rekindled wider interest in the 1972 Andes tragedy, prompting renewed discussion about survival ethics and the endurance of community under extreme stress. Its visual approach and realistic staging have been widely discussed online and in essays, helping younger viewers learn about the real event without sensationalizing it.

Critics generally responded positively, reflected in a strong user vote average near 8 out of 10, with particular praise for atmosphere, sound design, and the cast's understated performances. Themes include leadership under strain, the bonds that keep groups together, and how memory shapes recovery after trauma. The film favors a restrained, human-centered approach, focusing on how ordinary people cope when everything familiar disappears.