LOS ANGELES, Jan 1 — Roberto Canessa’s survival story has captured the attention of many, as the tale of how he endured a plane crash, avalanches, and the consumption of human flesh to save himself and his friends is set to be depicted in a major new Netflix movie. This extraordinary story from the Andes will hit the screens on January 4 and is expected to be in contention for awards, including Oscars.
The film, titled Society of the Snow, directed by J.A. Bayona, focuses on the harrowing journey of Canessa and his amateur rugby team after their plane crashed in the frigid Andes in 1972. Canessa, now 70, is enthusiastic about the movie’s release, believing that the survival story holds important lessons for future generations and those facing their own personal challenges.
The name of the film, “Society of the Snow,” refers to the bond formed among the survivors when they realized that the civilized world had abandoned them. This idea embodies the pact that emerged among the individuals who overcame the catastrophic event.
The dramatic impact of the crash left the survivors stranded in the Andes for 72 days, during which they battled freezing temperatures, avalanches, infected wounds, and dire conditions. The true story of the survivors’ endurance and eventual rescue has been previously depicted in the 1993 film Alive, but Bayona believed there was still more to tell, leading to the creation of Society of the Snow.
The movie has earned recognition, being selected as the closing film at the Venice Film Festival, and has received nominations for the upcoming Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards. Moreover, it is Spain’s official entry for the Oscars and has made the final shortlists for several categories. As audiences await the Academy Award nominations, Canessa hopes the film will encourage viewers to contemplate their own response to challenges, using the survival journey as a metaphor for life’s difficulties.
The Andes survival story of Roberto Canessa’s ordeal, set to be depicted in Society of the Snow, serves as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the unyielding will to survive in the face of insurmountable adversity.