Society of the Snow

➤Rated R
➤Netflix

On its way to Chile, a plane carrying a team of young Uruguayan rugby players crashes in the Andes Mountains. Wearing nothing warmer than jean jackets and corduroy pants (it’s the 1970s), the survivors must go to extraordinary lengths to stay alive in sub-zero temperatures. Society of the Snow is based on the true story of Flight 571. It offers a realistic portrayal of the 1972 tragedy while raising intriguing questions about the relationship between faith and reason.

Marcelo (Diego Vegezzi) assumes the role of leader by rationing the food and organizing the survivors. He’s fairly optimistic about their chances of rescue and tries to keep morale high. Adolfo “Fito” (Esteban Kukuriczka) isn’t so confident. Numa (Enzo Vogrincic), the character we feel closest to, believes in God and wants to do the right thing. As the boys watch the horizon and their food supply dwindles, Numa finds his convictions increasingly difficult to hold on to. Tension erupts among the boys as they wonder if they have a fundamental right to survive and whether they should resort to cannibalism to preserve that right.

The Spanish film is short-listed for an Oscar in the foreign-­language category. Given director J.A. Bayona’s attention to detail—including the impressive sound effects—the movie’s critical acclaim makes sense. The film is violent, but the goriest parts take place off camera. It also contains some male frontal nudity, but it’s brief and not for sexual effect, and the film has little foul language.

As for worldview: Some of the boys believe that tragedy and rescue are different kinds of accidents. Christian viewers should be reminded that there’s no such thing.