Society of the Snow is a harrowing true story based on a tragic plane crash that happened in 1972. The film retells the terrifying incident that saw forty-five passengers, including members of an amateur Uruguayan Rugby Team, crashing into the Andes mountain range. There were sixteen survivors, and the film focuses on their struggles in the harsh wilderness of the Andes.
Who are the Survivors from the Andes Plane Crash?
After seventy days, a rescue operation managed to find the sixteen survivors of the crash, and the rescue mission began. The survivors were:
- Roberto Canessa*
- Nando Parrado*
- Carlos Paez Rodriguez*
- José Pedro Algorta
- Alfredo “Pancho” Delgado
- Daniel Fernández
- Roberto “Bobby” François
- Roy Harley*
- José “Coche” Luis Inciarte
- Álvaro Mangino
- Javier Methol
- Ramón “Moncho” Sabella
- Adolfo “Fito” Strauch
- Eduardo Strauch
- Antonio “Tintin” Vizintín*
- Gustavo Zerbino (medical student)
The list above is taken from Wikipedia. Any name marked with an asterisk was a member of the rugby team. José “Coche” Luis Inciarte and Javier Methol have unfortunately since passed away, but they were rescued along with the others.
The mission took place in hazardous conditions, and between December 21st to the 23rd, the above passengers were saved.
Where are the Survivors of Andes Today?
Since being rescued:
Roberto Canessa has enjoyed a successful medical career and a slightly less successful political one. He married his childhood sweetheart Laura Surraco in 1976 and they have three children: Hilario, Roberto Martín, and Laura Inés.
Nando Perrado has worked in business and television, as well as becoming a motivational speaker using his own experiences to help others cope with psychological trauma. He also co-wrote the book Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home.
Carlos Paez Rodriguez became an agricultural technician, pursued a career in advertising, founded his own agency, and presently manages his own company, Communication Consultancy and Public Relations. He also published the successful book After the tenth day.
José Pedro Algorta graduated with a master’s degree in Business Administration from Stanford University, but little is known about him otherwise. Alfredo “Pancho” Delgado has participated in various events but otherwise stays out of the limelight. Daniel Fernández is a public speaker. Roberto “Bobby” François is a rancher but maintains a very private life.
The survivors of the crash would go on to tell of their ordeal through various books, documentaries, and films. In 2022, the survivors of the ordeal would reunite on the fiftieth anniversary of the crash, and other survivors would contribute to the latest film adaptation of the story (the last one was Alive in 1993.)
In an interview with Games Radar, the film’s director J.A. Bayona would say:
“We always felt very lucky that we were able to shoot this film with the collaboration of not only the survivors but also the families of the deceased, so I wanted to sit down with them and get as much information as possible.”
The director of the film would also arrange for the actors that were playing the parts in the movie to meet with the real-life survivors of the crash, so they could research the roles they would be playing, and get a real feel for what they went through during their horrific ordeal.
Did the survivors of the crash see the Netflix film?
In the Games Radar interview, director Bayona would say:
“Five days before the world premiere in Venice, I took a flight to Uruguay and I showed the film to all the survivors, the families of the survivors, and the families of the deceased, all together. We were very scared – not only us but also them. They hadn’t read a single line of the script, so they didn’t know what to expect from the film. But, ultimately, I think the reaction was very positive.”
Gustavo Zerbino was one of the survivors that watched the film, that was met with a standing ovation as the end credits rolled.
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