‘Society of the Snow’: See real photos of the Andes survivors

• Real photos of Andes survivors.
• Society of the Snow is based on their story.
• Director J.A. Bayona pays tribute to the survivors.

On January 4, the film Society of the Snow premiered on Netflix in the United States and Latin America.

This movie provides a new perspective on the 1972 Andes plane crash. Out of 45 people on board, 29 lost their lives.

Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona, this drama is based on the eponymous book by Pablo Vierci, following the story of the Uruguayan Air Force plane disaster.

After watching the film, people quickly began searching online for real photos of the 16 Andes survivors.

An event that will never be forgotten

According to The Associated Press, the Old Christians rugby team was traveling with family and friends to Chile for a match when their plane crashed.

This left them stranded in the mountains where they faced snowstorms, avalanches and starvation.

Moreover, the Andes survivors found themselves forced to consume the flesh of their deceased companions.

This tragedy has been recounted before through documentaries, plays and other projects.

Bayona wanted to honor the survivors and victims

Addressing this tale of resilience, J.A. Bayona aimed to do more than direct a dramatic interpretation of a real-life tragedy.

The Spanish director wanted to tell a story that honored the Andes survivors, the victims of the crash and their Uruguayan culture.

«It’s more a reflection than an action book and ultimately helped me a lot in understanding the characters,» he said about Vierci’s book.

Additionally, he wanted to leverage the connection between the living and the dead, including an on-screen tribute to those who passed away.

‘Compassion and mercy prevailed’

Pablo Vierci commented that Society of the Snow is a small story in the sense that it involves 45 people lost in the mountains.

However, it is both emblematic and symbolic.

«[W]e can observe how they endured major adversities and built a society where compassion and mercy prevailed.»

Beyond speaking with the Andes survivors, the loved ones of the victims and visiting the crash site, Bayona wanted to do something more.

J.A. Bayona wanted to get as close to reality as possible

According to The Associated Press, the director’s approach also included talking to Andes survivors like Carlitos Páez.

«I wanted to get as close to reality as possible,» said Bayona, who subjected his cast to a weight loss program supervised by a doctor.

Many don’t realize that he filmed avalanche scenes in freezing conditions.

According to Gustavo Zerbino, another survivor, it was the first time that the relatives of many victims were involved in recounting what happened.

What is the mission of the Andes survivors?

Both the movie and the Andes survivors want to preserving the legacy of those who lost their lives and helped to keep their friends alive.

«The society of the snow is real, it’s not fiction, to the point that I returned to this world, but I still live in the society of the snow,» said Zerbino.

Many scenes in the film were recreated from real photos of Andes survivors. One of the survivors took these images during their time in the mountains.

To see a comparison of real photos of the Andes survivors and recreations click HERE.