Society of the Snow 2023

Society of the Snow unfolds its harrowing tale in Montevideo, Uruguay, during the tumultuous month of October 1972. The story begins on an energetic note as the Old Christians Club rugby team engages in a fierce match against their rivals. The youthful player Roberto (Matías Recalt) captures the ball, showcasing his determination to score, ignoring the urging calls from the captain and seasoned players. Unfortunately, this display of heroism leads to nothing as he is tackled by the opposition, symbolizing the ultimate defeat of the Old Christians Club after an abysmal loss in the match. Nevertheless, the locker room buzzes with enthusiasm and excitement, as the team looks forward to their exhilarating journey to Chile for an upcoming match, viewing the trip as an adventure rather than just a game.

As fate would have it, the team’s plane departs smoothly from Uruguay, flying with forty passengers aboard, inclusive of the 19 players from the Old Christians Club and five crew members. Among them are Numa (Enzo Vogrincic), Fernando ‘Nando’ Parrado (Agustín Pardella), Gustavo (Tomas Wolf), Daniel Fernández Strauch (Francisco Romero), Alfredo ‘Pancho’ Delgado (Valentino Alonso), Carlitos Páez (Felipe Gonzalez Otaño), Adolfo ‘Fito’ Strauch (Esteban Kukuriczka), and many more.

Initially, everything seems splendid as passengers revel in capturing joyful memories through photographs. But the pleasant ambiance quickly morphs into trepidation when the plane encounters a violent storm as it nears the towering Andes Mountains. The turbulence escalates dramatically, forcing the pilots to attempt a perilous diversion to avoid the high peaks. Unfortunately, the aircraft loses control, crashing into the snow-laden Andes and splitting into two upon impact.

In the aftermath of the crash, twelve passengers succumb to injuries, while the survivors are left in an agonizing limbo, facing treacherous conditions whilst awaiting help. On October 13th, 1972, their suffering begins in earnest. Tragically, in the chaos, the pilot dies shortly after the crash, resulting in a loss of communication with the outside world. Survivors attempt to reach out via the pilot’s radio; however, they grapple with the absence of power to operate the equipment.

In their makeshift headquarters of the broken plane, survival becomes an urgent priority. As night descends, the chilling cold forces the survivors to huddle together, even with the bodies of those who didn’t make it— a grim but necessary action to stave off the freezing temperatures, which plummet swiftly after sundown. They clean out the wreckage, retrieving the scant remnants of their former lives and laying the deceased’s bodies on the snow, a heartbreaking farewell.

The missing Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 quickly becomes news, prompting the authorities to initiate a search for the missing passengers. Despite hearing planes flying nearby, rescue attempts falter as the crash site remains untraceable, obscured by heavy snow that blankets the landscape. The survivors are left to endure an intolerable wait—excruciating not only due to the relentless cold but also the injuries they endure, coupled with dwindling food supplies, dwindling to nothing but remnants of what they had.

Days turn into nights as the absence of food takes a harrowing toll. With no fauna or flora to sustain them, the survivors face relentless hunger as they grapple with the moral implications of survival. The eventual and dreaded decision to resort to cannibalism emerges, as the bodies of their lost friends lay around them, a grim necessity in their quest to stay alive. While some struggle with this horrific prospect, led by the Strauch cousins, it ultimately becomes their reality. The deaths of those like Nando’s sister Susana (Alfonsina Carrocio) on the eighth day serve as a grim reminder of their harsh reality.

Their situation is exacerbated by extreme cold, brutal storms, and infections. The physiological toll manifests as many suffer from peeling skin and debilitating maladies. As winter conduces a change of plans, they reckon with the moral complexities of their fateful choices. Days without help intensify their dilemma, until the survivors collectively agree to consent to the consumption of each other’s bodies should death occur— an act of humanity amidst the horrors of fate.

The battle for survival ensues for an unimaginably long seventy-two days within the snowy expanse of the Andes. Ingenious attempts arise from salvaged electronics, leading the group to construct a rudimentary radio that unfortunately delivers the crushing blow of abandoned rescue operations. As despair looms, the weather wreaks havoc, avalanches burying much of their make-shift home and claiming more lives amongst the hapless crew.

In desperate moments, four men—Roberto, Nando, Tintín (Agustín Della Corte), and Numa—embark on a trek through the perilous terrain, aiming to reach civilization and alert authorities. During this strenuous journey, Numa’s foot infection ultimately forces him to return, leaving three to forge ahead. They find the plane’s tail, salvaging what little supplies they can gather before trudging back to the scant remaining survivors.

As the days darken, the survivors cling to hope. On November 29th, seventeen survivors remain, enduring frigid temperatures while waiting for a miracle. Numa’s fate turns grim as he perishes on December 11th, prompting the remaining members to reattempt their eastward journey following the passing of winter. As the sun starts to shine after a long desolation, the trio—Roberto, Nando, and Tintin—press on. After what feels like an eternity, they reach the peak of the mountain, peering down at the fertile valley they had been yearning for.

There, they witness a lizard, a beacon of life, followed by a breathtaking sight—a solitary horseman. Communicating with the villager leads to rescue, and with their message sent to the Chilean authorities, hope rekindles as they emerge from their ordeal. On December 22, 1972, as Nando and Roberto unfold their miraculous tale in a Chilean village, media representatives swarmed, sharing their survival story with the world.

The long-awaited rescue finally arrives, lifting the spirits from the shadow of despair as survivors await their fate. More than mere lives, they emerge having discovered their inner strength amidst an unthinkable trial, fueled by camaraderie, hope, and an unyielding will to survive. The tale of the Old Christians Club, once defined by their swift descent into despair, now stands as a testament to the triumph of human spirit and resolve against overwhelming odds.