The Untold Details of Society of the Snow

The Authenticity of Society of the Snow

The J.A. Boyena survival movie Society of the Snow removed one key detail from the true story in the otherwise highly accurate film. Society of the Snow has been praised for its intently authentic portrayal of the survivors and the deceased regarding the tragic 1972 Andres plane crash and 72-day fight for survival in essentially unlivable conditions. Bayona worked closely with the living survivors and the families of the deceased to capture a highly faithful representation of what exactly happened over the course of the true story.

Enzo Vogrincic Roldán as Numa Turcatti looking around worried in Society of the Snow

Society of the Snow is based on the book 'La Sociedad de la Nieve' written by Pablo Vierci, who grew up with many of the survivors and the deceased. Society of the Snow is Spain's official submission for Best International Feature at the 2024 Academy Awards and features a cast of entirely South American actors, many of whom make their feature film debut. Society of the Snow was released on Netflix on January 4, 2024, and has maintained its status as one of the most popular films on the streaming platform.

Adolfo %22Fito%22 Strauch in Society of the Snow

The film's dedication to accuracy and respect for the survivors and their families is evident in its portrayal, making it a compelling and emotionally resonant viewing experience for audiences.

Daniel Fernández in Society of the Snow

Unveiling Untold Birthdays on the Mountain

One of the most personally tragic moments of Society of the Snow is when Numa mentions in his voice-over at one point that it's his birthday. This would have been true for several of the survivors over the course of the 72-day period in Society of the Snow but the movie skips over a few other birthdays that were actually celebrated on the mountain. Carlos Rodriguez and Nando, both survivors, had their birthdays on the mountain. Alfredo 'Pancho' Delgado's birthday occurred just a few days after the avalanche killed eight people and was celebrated with singing and wine.

Roy Harley in Society of the Snow

It's important to note that while Numa was the protagonist and narrator of Society of the Snow, he is given a much larger focus than in previous renditions of the story such as in the 1993 film Alive starring Ethan Hawke. Numa's name was not used in Alive because the production did not have the permission of the families of the deceased to use their actual names and likenesses. A great deal of Society of the Snow is told through Numa's eyes and, as a result, he is the only person whose birthday on the mountain is acknowledged.

Pedro Algorta in Society of the Snow

The decision to highlight only Numa's birthday in the film may have been influenced by the need to manage time constraints and maintain focus on the central narrative. However, the inclusion of other birthdays, particularly Nando's, could have added depth to the characters and their experiences on the mountain.

Carlos %22Carlitos%22 Miguel Páez Rodríguez in Society of the Snow

The Untold Stories Behind Omissions

With the runtime of Society of the Snow already approaching two hours and thirty minutes, a likely reason why the film only includes Numa's birthday is due to time constraints. There is so much to be covered and pay respect to in the movie that the point they make about Numa celebrating his life while surrounded by death is accomplished by one example alone. There was no real need to replicate other birthdays in Society of the Snow, although it would have been interesting to include at least in Nando's case since he was such a huge part of the story.

José %22Coche%22 Luis Inciarte in Society of the Snow

The decision to focus on Numa's birthday as the primary representation of celebrating life amidst tragedy highlights the challenges of adaptation and storytelling in capturing the full breadth of the survivors' experiences. While the movie's omission of other birthdays may have been a practical choice, it raises questions about the complexities of portraying real-life events within the constraints of a cinematic narrative.