Netflix's Most Gripping Survival Drama Is This Spanish Masterpiece With 2 Oscar Nominations

Society of the Snow is a Spanish disaster movie directed by J. A. Bayona that received two Oscar nominations. The film recounts the 1972 Andes disaster, in which a passenger plane carrying a rugby team crashed in the snowy mountains.

Unlike previous adaptations of the disaster, Bayona's project is intensely involved and strives to convey the events as authentically as possible.

What Is 'Society of the Snow' About?

In October 1972, a plane carrying 45 passengers, including members of a rugby team and their friends and relatives, was flying from Uruguay to Chile over the Andes. As it approached Santiago, the plane was caught in a cyclone and crashed.

Miraculously, 29 passengers survived, but their ordeal had only begun – they had no heat source or basic medical care.

With limited supplies and gradually losing their humanity, they spent nearly two months in the snowy mountains awaiting rescue, resorting to cannibalizing their fallen friends.

'Society of the Snow' Is a Faithful Retelling of Real Events That Shows Respect for the Victims

One of the main differences between Society of the Snow and previous adaptations is the author's involvement in the events. Bayona discussed the script in detail with survivors of the events. One of them, Carlos Páez, played a cameo role as his own father.

Filming took place at the crash site, among other locations, adding authenticity to the movie. Rather than seeking to shock viewers, the director pays tribute to those who survived this tragedy.

Rather than exploring psychological trauma or documenting everyday life, the film creates a spectacular story about the value of teamwork – it's only through shared efforts, not individual heroics, that the characters survive.

'Society of the Snow' Is Just a High-Quality, Gripping Disaster Movie

Society of the Snow is a perfect disaster movie that portrays stunning composure under extreme circumstances.

The film's cinematography and visuals deserve special mention: the snowy landscapes are captured with cinematic precision, creating a feeling of total immersion.

Society of the Snow's impressive two-and-a-half-hour running time feels entirely justified – it manages to accommodate a prologue featuring preparations and a thoughtful ending where the victims finally see the rescuers.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Society of the Snow'?

• Society of the Snow has 90% from critics and 88% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.8/10.

• On Letterboxd, Society of the Snow scored 4.2/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Society of the Snow'?

Society of the Snow is available to stream on Netflix.