The film Snow Company by Juan Antonio Bayona, became a huge success. Not only is it one of the most-watched films in the history of Netflix, but it has also achieved two nominations for the Oscar 2024, which makes it a milestone in Spanish cinema. But beyond its undoubted technical achievements, the film is an inspired tale of physical and spiritual achievement. All from the perspective of survivors of the 1972 crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571.
Due to such a triumph, Netflix included the documentary in its catalog Snow Company: Who Were We in the Mountains? by Manuel Romo. The 36-minute production describes the creative process of the film as well as the relationship between the talent behind the camera and the survivors. The result is an emotional documentary full of information that interests the public who are interested in what Bayon’s film tells. But much more, uA journey after months of production that was able to penetrate in detail into one of the worst aviation tragedies in history.
The documentary ranges from interviews to an overview of all the artistic decisions Bayona and the rest of the technical team made to benefit the narrative. Which includes how to adapt Pablo Vierci’s narrative, based essentially on his perspective and that of the people who surrounded the survivors. Book Snow tells what is involved in the so-called tragedy in the Andes from an intimate perspective that was a challenge for a filmmaking talent worthy of the headlines.
Tell a familiar story
One of the points that attracts the most attention to the Snow Society is its deep dimension and essentially unpublished data about a known historical fact. The Snow Society answers the question: Who were we in the mountains? showing how the director chose to tell what happened from an emotional point of view. Which also includes personal involvement in reviews. The production shows how each of the actors embraced their physical process of losing weight and gaining the appearance of their characters, as a way of understanding what they were going through.
In addition, the story features real survivors who provide all sorts of interesting information about their involvement in the film. The group was closely involved in the film and agreed to the most difficult scenes. Especially, Nando Parrado who kept a watchful eye on everything related to the manner of recounting the long days of isolation and fear.
The Snow Society: Who We Were in the Mountains? is not just a complete movie experience. It is also an overview of an incident that forever changed the perception of survival in Latin America. Something that the documentary’s argument presents with reverent care and stands out in several of its most poignant moments.
A tragedy that shocked the world
As will be recalled, the crash of Uruguayan Force Flight 571, left 45 survivors isolated, in the middle of the Andes. The original group survived for two weeks before being decimated by an avalanche. After 72 days in the worst conditions, in which they even resorted to cannibalism with the corpses of the deceased, only 16 managed to save their lives.
The Snow Society pays tribute to both the deceased and the bereaved. A detail that made the film a great success and that also resonated at the Academy Awards.