To be honest, for a long time I've hit a bit of a slump with disaster movies. You know the drill – the overused narrative that kicks off by introducing the key characters and their backgrounds, then swiftly dives into the heart-pounding, out-of-nowhere disaster. It's followed by all the same survival struggle, resource-grabbing, and interpersonal carnage. Sure, you might get those heartwarming moments where adversity reveals true friendship for a bit of relief from the tension.
Now, "Society of the Snow" seemed like it would follow the same recipe, having its roots in a true story. Let's face it: movies based on real events often struggle to escape the clichés of genre films just to keep things watchable. And let's not forget the source material - the shockingly true events of 1972, where a plane carrying 45 people, including young players from a Uruguayan rugby team and their friends and family, crashed in the unforgiving Andes Mountains. Only 29 made it out alive, and in the harsh conditions, they had to resort to the unthinkable – consuming the bodies of their deceased companions.
But here's the kicker – there are no artificially crafted conflicts just for the shock factor, no moral judgments served after the fact. Director J.A. Bayona weaves his magic delicately, focusing on showing how this group of people, against all odds, helped each other survive with love and support. As an audience, we can sense the director's respect for this incredible story and its even more incredible characters. Every potentially juicy and dramatic moment is treated with a touch of subtlety. In revealing the film's core theme, the director doesn't just spill the beans; instead, he lets us soak it in gradually through the characters' prolonged struggle for survival.
Take Numa, for instance – the film unfolds through his first-person perspective. Without any prior knowledge of the real-life figures from the event, I had no idea about Numa's role. But here's where it gets interesting – I initially pegged him as the heroic figure, the soul leading the team through those 71 grueling days, a disaster movie's typical hero. Yet Numa bites the dust! That moment hit me hard. He isn't your run-of-the-mill disaster movie hero but one who peacefully says, "After I die, you can eat my body. You must live well for me."
This calm and restrained narrative style, which gives off a vibe akin to the silence of the snow-covered mountains, somehow makes the audience's 144-minute journey nothing short of excruciating. Yet, isn't that precisely what the protagonists felt in their dire straits? No wild plot twists, just a straightforward, steady narrative. It's like the movie purposefully uses its lengthy runtime, unhurried pace, and mundane plot to make us feel the suffering, pain, and despair of those trapped in the snow-capped mountains.
Stripping away the theatrical, sensational, and emotional elements, it becomes easier for us to peel back the layers and ponder why these people could pull off miracles in real-life events. Why? I believe it's largely because they were a group of friends and family, steering clear of any deceit and survival-of-the-fittest jungle rule nonsense. Instead, they held onto a noble order of mutual assistance and encouragement. Among this diverse group were devout believers and atheists alike, yet in the end, they all agreed on one thing: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
"Society of the Snow" has earned its stripes, representing Spain at the Oscars for Best International Feature Film and has made the shortlist. Additionally, it recently received a nomination for Best Foreign Language Film at the 81st Golden Globe Awards. No doubt about it – this is a masterpiece that deserves your attention as we dive into 2024.
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