IronWatcher’s review published on Letterboxd:
Watched on Netflix
Traveling by plane is considered to be one of the safest ways to travel. However, this does not mean that accidents do not occur from time to time, which are often particularly devastating. One of the most famous examples is that of the Uruguayan rugby team who crashed their plane in the Andes in 1972 and had to find a way to help themselves. Not only was the story spectacular and shocking. It has also been adapted time and again. There have been several plays and books. And, of course, the films. There was a first version called "Supervivientes de los Andes" from Mexico back in 1976, followed by the US version "Alive" with Ethan Hawke in 1993. A documentary film followed in 2007. Now comes a third feature film version called "La sociedad de la nieve", which was released on Netflix. With a story that is so firmly anchored in common knowledge and has been told so often, the question naturally arises: does it really need a new film adaptation?
It's not that easy to answer. One advantage of the new version is, of course, that the technical possibilities have become much greater over the last 30 years. "La sociedad de la nieve" knows how to make use of this, and the opening scene in which the plane crashes is very impressively staged. Spanish director J. A. Bayona, who is on a somewhat smaller scale here after his major productions "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power", doesn't just give the passengers a good shake during the crash. As a viewer, you also have a lot to get used to here. The fact that the filmmaker originally comes from a horror background and knows how to create thrilling moments comes in handy here. On the other hand, he is very restrained in the shocking scenes in which the survivors are forced to eat the dead.
The emotional component of the film is also less impressive. Bayona has already proven that he knows how to tell human destinies in a stirring way. The outstanding fantasy drama "A Monster Calls" is his achievement. And then, of course, there is "The Impossible", in which he has already addressed a real catastrophe, specifically the tsunamis in Thailand at the end of 2004. At that time, however, he illustrated the disaster using the example of a single family, which enabled him to delve deeper into the psyche of his characters.
In "La sociedad de la nieve", he refrains from doing this, preferring instead to pay tribute to all 45 people who were present at the crash. On the one hand, this is commendable, as it is often disconcerting how victims are pushed to the margins in such stories in order to give priority to individuals. However, it also means that no one is really given any depth and you don't have any opportunity to get to know the characters better. Names are shown regularly. But this is no substitute for an actual characterization, the people remain strangers. As Bayona also refrained from using well-known actors and actresses, the recognition value is low.
But even if "La sociedad de la nieve" is ultimately not quite as moving as one might wish, the result is definitely worth seeing. The survival drama entices with stunning images from the icy mountain landscapes. The various attempts to free themselves from the situation, for example through repeated expeditions, are gripping and convey the desperation when the men run up against certain death. In terms of acting, there is nothing to complain about either. The South American ensemble, which consists mainly of newcomers, does a decent job. The result is roughly on a par with the well-known US film, which is why I can recommend this production to those of you who are not yet familiar with the story.
