Society of the Snow vs. Alive: Exploring the Key Differences

Differences in Filmmaking and Release

Society of the Snow and Alive both tell the true story of the survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash, but there are several key differences between the two films. Released more than 30 years ago in 1993, Alive was directed by Frank Marshall, a prominent producer known for his work on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Signs (2002), and Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). On the other hand, Society of the Snow was directed by Spanish filmmaker J.A. Bayona, known for directing Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), A Monster Calls (2016), and the 2012 disaster movie The Impossible. Society of the Snow is Spain's official submission for Best International Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards. It was released on January 4, 2024, on Netflix and has quickly become one of the most talked about movies of the new year. Alive, although not necessarily a box office hit in 1993, did captivate audiences upon its release, but Society of the Snow ultimately offers a fresh and closer perspective of the Miracle of the Andes with several added layers of realism.

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Numa Turcatti, the last person to pass away before the remaining 16 survivors were rescued in real life, has a much bigger role in Society of the Snow than he does in Alive. Numa is one of the main protagonists throughout Society of the Snow who narrates the story as it is happening, whereas Alive has a different narrator told from another perspective.

Numa Turcatti (Enzo Vogrncic) during the avalanche in Society of the Snow.

Adaptation from Books

Both Society of the Snow and Alive were based on two of the dozens of books that were written about the 1972 Andes plane crash by historians, journalists, and many of the survivors. The screenplay for Society of the Snow was based on the book La Sociedad de la Nieve written by Pablo Vierci, while the screenplay for Alive was based on the 1974 book Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors written by British novelist Piers Paul Read.

the survivors sitting in and around the broken fuselage in Society of the Snow

Narrative and Realism

Society of the Snow is a more accurate depiction of the real-life events following the 1972 Andes plane crash and 72 days of survival than Alive. It includes more additional details and tells more of an overall straightforward narrative of the events as they actually happened. Society of the Snow also offers a fresh and closer perspective of the Miracle of the Andes with several added layers of realism. Additionally, Society of the Snow has much more graphic scenes than Alive, allowing the story to be depicted with a more accurate sense of realism than ever before.

The 16 survivors in Society of the Snow in the hospital