THE FILM
TITLE: The Society of The Snow (La Sociedad de la Nieve)
RELEASE DATE: 09 Sep 2023
WATCH DATE: 09 Mar 2024
TYPE: live-action feature film (dubbed, originally Spanish)
ACCESS: streaming on Netflix
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THE PEOPLE
DIRECTOR: J. A. Bayona
PRODUCER: Belén Atienza, J. A. Bayona, Pablo Vierci, Sandra Hermida, Philip Bolus
WRITER: Bernat Vilaplana, J. A. Bayona, Jaime Marques, Nicolás Casariego Córdoba
ACTORS: Enzo Vogrincic, Agustín Pardella, Matías Recalt, Tomás Wolf
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THE STORY
RUNTIME: 2h 24m
STORYLINE: a rugby team from Uruguay endures a plane crash in the Andes Mountains and the survivors must endure the extreme elements, starvation, and isolation as they fight to stay alive long enough to be rescued.
GENRE/THEMES: drama, history, teamwork, survival, based on true story
Based on Society of the Snow, by Pablo Vierci
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THE CRITIQUE
Chilling.
Traumatizing.
Captivating.
Society of the Snow is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. J. A. Bayona (The Impossible, A Monster Calls, and The Lord of The Rings: The Rings of Power) brings this true story to the screen without hiding a single detail. An impossible situation pushes the absolute limits of humanity - and then beyond. Society of the Snow is so many of this year's films wrapped into one. The trauma and narration of 20 Days in Mariupol. The cinematography of Oppenheimer. The inspiration and endurance of Nyad. The emotion of The Color Purple. It makes The Zone of Interest look like child's play. This film deserves so many more awards than it was nominated for, including Best Picture. It was submitted for Original Score and more notably Visual Effects for which it deserves both a nomination and a win (see Oscar Shortlist).
A rugby team from Uruguay endures a plane crash in the Andes Mountains and the survivors must endure the extreme elements, starvation, and isolation as they fight to stay alive long enough to be rescued. The incredible cast portrays such a vast range of emotions, and you feel trapped in the Andes right along with them. Enzo Vogrincic (Numa Turcatti) carries the lead role for most of the film. His role is the heart and soul of the survivors, and costume designer Julio Suárez creatively dresses only him in yellows and brighter fabrics to emphasize the hope he represents.
Technically, Society of the Snow is astounding. The plane crash scene is... some of the best minutes of film I've ever seen. The event is horrifying, but the cinematography and special effects are so excellently executed that you can't look away. The cast and crew overcame countless technical challenges - including filming onsite in the Valley of Tears in the Andes Mountains, the real-life location of the events from the film.
To apply the effects of dehydration, frostburn, and starvation to a character, and make it believable, requires incredible skill. The makeup & hairstyling team does so to an entire cast of the 27 survivors. Their achievement overshadows the other films nominated for this category. The various textures of skin, the cracked lips, the unkempt hair, the hollow cheeks, the thinned limbs. The bodies. Everything about the physical appearance of the characters is tangible and dreadfully realistic.
Extraordinarily bitter, yet rewardingly sweet.
One of the best films of the year.
Many stories like this have been told on screen - and so many more that could be told. And while these stories are disturbing, they are also inspiring. They show us something deep about ourselves as people and what we’re capable of. Just as Numa narrates in the opening scene of the film: “Some say it was a tragedy. Others call it a miracle,” a miracle in the Andes… the truth? It is both. Both extremes of the human experience, collide in the psyche at the same time.
To learn more about the making of the film, explore the Art of Society of the Snow (digital book).
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THE RECEPTION
NOMINATIONS
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THE IMPRESSION
IN A SINGLE WORD: traumatizing & captivating
MOST STRIKING ELEMENT: cinematography, production design
REWATCH: yes
RATING: 5 // 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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