WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Society of the Snow.
Society of the Snow, directed by Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona, tells the incredible true story of the 1972 Andes plane crash and the passengers’ resilient fight for survival over 72 days. The film has been presented as Spain’s official submission for Best International Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards and features a cast of entirely South American actors, many of whom make their feature film debut. Society of the Snow was released on Netflix on January 4, 2024, and has remained one of the most popular films on the streaming platform.
While Society of the Snow has been acknowledged for its outstanding attention to detail and overall adherence to the authenticity of the real-life events, one minor complaint about the film is that it ends without commenting on what happened to the survivors afterward. Of the sixteen original survivors depicted in Society of the Snow, fourteen are still alive today and were directly involved in the development of the film. Many of the survivors seen in Society of the Snow went on to become authors and motivational speakers.
Related
12 Biggest Differences Between Society Of The Snow & Alive’s Portrayals Of The Andes Flight Disaster (30 Years Apart)
While 2023’s Society of the Snow and 1993’s Alive essentially tell the same story, there are several major differences between the two films.
12 Rumors Spread That The Survivors Killed Others For Food
These rumors were proven to be false
Following the rescue of the original sixteen survivors as depicted at the end of Society of the Snow, there was an international media frenzy that sought to get answers out to the public. After the initial shock that anyone could have survived those conditions for such a long period of time, the press began to speculate on how the survivors actually lived to tell the tale. Once a photo of human remains was discovered, the press became suspicious of the survivors and even accused them of killing each other for food.
11 The Survivors Held A Press Conference To Explain Cannibalism
The conference was held days after their rescue
After the public backlash caused by the release of the photo of human remains at the crash site, the survivors held a press conference on December 28, 1972, less than a week after they had been rescued, to explain themselves. They had originally not planned to tell the world that they were forced to resort to cannibalism but were forced to respond after the media caused a swirl of sensationalism around the story. Once the survivors offered their perspective, the press was much less antagonistic toward them.
10 A Chilean Priest Confirmed That The Survivors Had Not Sinned
Many survivors were devout Catholics
Many of the survivors were devout Catholics and were terrified that they were committing an unforgivable sin by resorting to cannibalism. A Chilean priest reaffirmed that due to the extreme circumstances, their actions were not considered sinful in the eyes of the Catholic Church. This might not seem like a significant factor in modern times, but to the survivors, it was the biggest reason why so many were opposed to resorting to cannibalism in the first place.
Related
What Happened To Every Real-Life Survivor After Society Of The Snow
All 16 survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash depicted in Society of the Snow went on to have fulfilling lives. Many wrote books and became speakers.
9 The Victims’ Remains Were Buried At The Crash Site In A Shared Grave
The families of the deceased were prohibited from attending
Following the rescue of the survivors, a team of Argentine authorities were sent out to the crash site where they were instructed to bury the bodies of the deceased. The officials collected the human remains and buried them in a common grave that was considered to be outside of the reach of potential avalanches in the future. The families of the deceased were not allowed to attend due to the grueling nature of the situation as well as safety concerns.
8 The Aircraft Wreckage Was Collected & Set On Fire By Argentine Authorities
Eduardo Strauch saw the fuselage when he returned in 1995
The Argentine authorities were also ordered to collect all of the aircraft wreckage and set it on fire in order to destroy it. However, when one of the survivors Eduardo Strauch revisited the crash site in 1995, he claimed that he saw the fuselage still there after all that time. It should be noted that J.A. Bayona and his production team actually shot near the crash site for certain moments seen in Society of the Snow.
7 A Father Of The Deceased Illegally Retrieved His Son’s Body
He was arrested for grave robbery
One of the most tragic parts of the aftermath of the 1972 Andes plane crash was the case of Ricardo Echavarren, who is the father of one of the victims. Trying to fulfill his son’s wishes to be buried at home, he hired a private group of mountaineers to retrieve his son’s body, which was considered an illegal act by Argentine authorities. Echavarren was charged with grave robbery but was later given permission to make funeral arrangements for his lost son.
Related
10 Biggest Changes Society Of The Snow Makes To The 1972 Andes Flight Disaster’s True Story
Society of the Snow is nearly a completely accurate retelling of the tragic 1972 Andes plane crash & survival story, but there are a few key changes.
6 Gustavo Zerbino Became CEO Of Uruguayan Rugby Federation
He was responsible for preserving victims’ letters & keepsakes
Gustavo Zerbino plays a critical role in Society of the Snow as the person who safeguarded all of the letters of the deceased written to their families, as well as some of their cherished items and keepsakes. Following his rescue, Zerbino carried on his passion for rugby and became the CEO and Director of the Uruguayan Rugby Federation. His effort on the mountain helped add a great deal of authenticity to the J.A. Bayona movie.
5 Fernando Perrado Became A Race Car Driver & TV Personality
He gave up his studies following the incident
Nando Perrado played a significant role in leading the survivors to being rescued in Society of the Snow and in real life, but sadly he had a difficult time readjusting back to normal life initially afterward. Nando mourned the losses of his sister and mother terribly and gave up on his collegiate studies but was able to make a career for himself as a race car diver and a television personality and played an important role in his father’s business.
4 Roberto Canessa Ran For President Of Uruguay In 1994
He is also a cardiologist and motivational speaker
Roberto Canessa eventually ran for President of Uruguay in 1994 but did not come close to winning. He continued his studies and became a pediatric cardiologist as well as a motivational speaker following the events of Society of the Snow. Canessa also became a professor and taught graduate courses in medicine over the course of his career. He notably was one of the earliest supporters of resorting to cannibalism in order to stay alive.
Related
Society Of The Snow Ending Explained
Society of the Snow retells the story of the 1972 Andes plane crash with great accuracy, allowing the viewer to interpret the outcome for themselves.
3 An Obelisk Monument Was Placed At The Crash Site In 2006
The monument was organized by the victims’ families
Decades later, in 2006, a group of the victims’ families came together for the development of a monument at the crash site in order to recognize their deceased family members. The monument is a black obelisk that can be seen at the exact site of the crash and lists all of the names of the victims. The obelisk was not mentioned or displayed in Society of the Snow.
2 The Andes Museum 1972 Was Established In 2013
The museum is located in Montevideo, Uruguay
Nearly 40 years after the horrific events of the 1972 Andes plane crash, the Andes Museum 1972 was established in Montevideo, Uruguay. The museum pays tribute to the 29 people who died during the plane crash and tried to survive afterward. Many of the original artifacts and clothing are on display there including the solar-powered water machines they used as well as several articles of clothing.
1 The Survivors Continue To Meet Each Year On December 22
Dec. 22 was the first day of their rescue
The survivors of the Miracle of the Andes continue to meet every year with their families on December 22, the anniversary of the first day they were rescued. The survivors also came together for the premiere screening of Society of the Snow and reportedly all Socieadmired the J.A. Bayona film. Two of the survivors have passed away, but fourteen, including Nando and Roberto, are still alive.
Society of the Snow
- Release Date
- December 15, 2023
- Director
- J.A. Bayona
- Cast
- Matías Recalt , Agustin Pardella , Felipe González Otaño , Luciano Chatton , Valentino Alonso , Francisco Romero , Agustín Berruti , Andy Pruss
- Runtime
- 144 Minutes
