“Society of the Snow is life-affirming, yet simultaneously challenges us with the meaning of life itself. “
Rylan Dawson
4.5 Scrum Feeds out of 5
“If I die, you have my permission to eat me”.]
No, this isn’t a Twilight reboot. It’s the shockingly true story of the Uruguayan Rugby team who’s charter plane crash landed into the Andes. In 1972, 45 members of the Uruguayan team and their loved ones depart for a scheduled match in Santiago, Chile. During the flight, the plane malfunctions and crashes into the mountains, killing 12 of the passengers. Days pass, and the 33 survivors’ thoughts quickly turn to starvation, and what must be done to ensure their survival. Eating their friends’ corpses is just one of many challenges they must face in their 2 and a half month stay amongst the snow.
Having already seen the 1993 botched effort Alive, I was familiar with the incredible story and its many gruesome turns. Here, director J. A. Bayona handles the tragedy of the lost souls with much greater respect, focusing more on the humanity of both the victims and the survivors over sensationalizing cannibalism. He thankfully keeps a lot of that horror off-screen leaving it to the viewer’s imagination. This serves to align the viewer with the survivors, as Bayona repeatedly posits the question to us: “what would you do?”
Why is this reboot so much better you ask? For starters, its in the correct language! Ethan Hawke as the captain of the Uruguay Rugby team? Go home 1993 Hollywood, you’re drunk. But it’s not only that the language enhances the authenticity, it’s that the subtitles create a somewhat unsettling need to keep your eyes on the screen – you’re forced to not look away when you’ll be very much tempted to. This version also captures the events in a much more compelling way. Alive was more of a by-the-numbers retelling of the ordeal, making it all feel… well, kinda dull. Here, you’re capture a love for this group of young men (and women) and feel an emotional and dedicated connection to each sufferer during their fleeting attempts for survival. You’ll mourn those that don’t make it and join in the triumph of will when those who remain are rescued. It’s a heartbreaking and gruesome parallel between a fan’s support for their team on the pitch and the viewer’s investment in their mountain survival.
Many will draw comparisons to Bayona’s 2012 film The Impossible, understandably. For me, it felt closer to the 2003 documentary Touching the Void, where each visceral scene has you wondering if things can get any worse, yet somehow they do. You’re left wondering how the hell this is a true story, as surely no one is surviving to tell the tale.
Society of the Snow is life-affirming, yet simultaneously challenges us with the meaning of life itself. Definitely worth a Saturday night viewing at home. Just, you know, after dinner.
Rylan Dawson, On The Screen
