The Crazy True Story
Society of the Snow. You won’t believe this real-life drama! Back in ’72, a plane goes down in the Andes, leaving a bunch of buddies stuck in freezing snow for a whopping 72 days, starving with zilch to eat. What’s even wilder? Two of them trek for days in harsh conditions, no fancy gear, just to get help. And bingo! It blows up in Uruguay, causing a media circus.
But here’s the jaw-dropping part—the only way they made it through was by eating the bodies of their pals who didn’t make it.
Big Screen Buzz
This real-life rollercoaster-turned-movie has been retold in documentaries and even got the Hollywood treatment in ’93 with Ethan Hawke in “Alive.” “Yellowjackets,” an Emmy-nominee, also picked up vibes from this story, showing how teens cope after a plane crash—a bit like Flight 571’s crew.
Now, director JA Bayona, known for “The Impossible,” brings this tale to life in a Spanish flick called “Society of the Snow.” It’s based on Pablo Vierci’s book and covers the same mind-blowing events.
It’s Not Just the Cannibalism Show
The Gutsy. Hold up! Bayona’s flick doesn’t dwell much on the grisly eating part. Nope, it’s more about the epic friendship, their crazy bond, and their insane generosity to survive.
Bayona’s angle? He’s like, “Yeah, it’s a grim tale, but we’re not zooming in on the horror. It’s about humanity and the incredible kindness they showed.”
Way More than Just Gruesome Meals
Sure, the story often circles the shocking chow-down bit, but there’s a whole lot more going on. The survivors made a pact, offering their own bodies as food if they didn’t pull through. The flight had 45 peeps—buddies, fam, and rugby players—on board, but only 16 young dudes made it.
Actor Enzo Vogrincic, playing a key role, insists there’s a deeper story of guts and sticking together.
Living the Story
The actors dived deep while filming, facing icy cold and hunger. They rocked 70s-style gear in the snow and even dropped pounds, with docs keeping an eye, to match their characters’ worn-out look after weeks roughing it out.
For Vogrincic and the gang, it was all about keeping it real, respecting the survivors and their families with a true-to-life depiction.
Bayona’s Eye-Opener
Bayona got a taste of the rough ride when he scoped out the crash site before filming. He felt the freezing cold and the altitude, getting a taste of what the survivors went through.
He’s all, “Man, these folks toughed out over 70 nights in that mess, freezing and unprepared. It’s mind-blowing how they kept going.”
Grit and Gutsiness
Picture this—a turning point in the tale: two survivors march off into the unknown, knowing it’s almost certain doom. But for Bayona, it’s sheer guts and honor in the face of the impossible.
Their crazy journey, surviving an avalanche and that desperate trek, screams loud about their fierce will to survive against all odds.
