--- title: "Society of the Snow" year: 2023 kind: "film" canonical: "https://film.one/film/society-of-the-snow" fi1m_id: "society-of-the-snow" imdb_id: "tt16277242" tmdb_id: 906126 wikidata_id: "Q112252419" fi1m_score: 81 critics_score: 73 critics_reviews: 22 published: "2026-10-03T03:16:20.819891+00:00" updated: "2026-10-03T03:16:21.328334+00:00" region: "ES" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Society of the Snow (2023) Directed by J. A. Bayona · 2h 23m · ICAA 16 · Drama, History ## Identity Society of the Snow - **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/society-of-the-snow - **Type:** Film - **Fi1m ID:** society-of-the-snow - **IMDb ID:** tt16277242 - **TMDB ID:** 906126 - **Wikidata ID:** Q112252419 - **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16277242/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/906126, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112252419 **Fi1m score: 81** · Critics 73 from 22 reviews *In a sentence:* We were prepared for a terrifying plane crash, but not for quite so much tenderness > J. A. Bayona’s survival drama is frightening, compassionate and sometimes overlong. The crash is hard to bear, and the attention paid to the survivors’ relationships earns our recommendation despite a repetitive middle. ## Synopsis A plane crashes in the Andes, leaving its survivors stranded in the mountains. Among them are Numa Turcatti (Enzo Vogrincic), Fernando “Nando” Parrado (Agustín Pardella) and Roberto Canessa (Matías Recalt). The damaged aircraft becomes the centre of their immediate struggle to stay alive. Numa and his companions must cope with the crash’s physical consequences while learning how to depend on one another. Fear and disagreements complicate that task. As the survivors begin to organise themselves, looking after each other becomes a practical necessity, while their circumstances put their beliefs and relationships under pressure. ## Review *Society of the Snow* is a harrowing, compassionate survival drama that sometimes takes too long to make a point it has already made. J. A. Bayona treats the Andes plane crash as the beginning of a shared ordeal, giving disagreements and acts of care substantial attention alongside physical endurance. That is the right choice for this story. The film asks how frightened people look after one another when none of them can promise that looking after anyone will be enough. The crash is difficult to sit through, and it should be. Pedro Luque’s claustrophobic photography keeps us close to the people inside the aircraft, while editors Jaume Martí and Andrés Gil make the confusion feel immediate without turning it into an exercise in showing off. We were horrified by the violence and the lack of space in which to escape it. The sequence establishes how vulnerable these bodies are before asking us to watch them endure more. Alain Bainée’s production design makes the wreck physically convincing, an important consideration when so much depends on believing what these people are enduring. There is little comfort in the mountain views, however striking the photography becomes. Michael Giacchino’s tense score sustains the unease through passages where there is less immediate action. These contributions work together particularly well when the film lets us feel the survivors’ confinement without explaining their predicament again. Enzo Vogrincic gives Numa Turcatti a watchfulness that helps the drama stay close to individual feeling. Around him, Agustín Pardella as Fernando “Nando” Parrado and Matías Recalt as Roberto Canessa belong to an ensemble whose relationships do much of the film’s work. Getting along becomes a practical necessity, which gives the disagreements weight beyond the usual business of creating conflict. We were moved by the tenderness between people who have so little left to offer. J. A. Bayona allows them to be caring and frightened at the same time. Survival dramas can become exhausting in their admiration for exceptional resolve, and this film’s interest in mutual dependence is welcome. It takes faith seriously, too, allowing belief to complicate the survivors’ struggle rather than simply provide reassurance. The attention given to their doubts helps prevent the group from becoming a collection of examples of good behaviour under pressure. Occasionally the reverence makes everyone seem a little too solemn, but the performances retain enough uncertainty to hold our attention. The difficulty comes in the extended middle, where the rhythm begins to repeat. The screenplay by Bernat Vilaplana, Nicolás Casariego Córdoba, J. A. Bayona and Jaime Marques returns too often to explanations of what the suffering means, with recurring narration leaving less for us to discover in the performances. Scenes that ought to hurt begin to feel familiar because the film has already told us how to understand them. We do not need the ordeal made tidier, but we could do with fewer explanations. The 143-minute running time makes this a demanding evening, especially for anyone who finds screen suffering difficult. For us, the care between the survivors justifies staying with it through the slower stretches. Choose it when neither of you needs something easy. *Fi1m score 81, published 3 October 2026.* ## What the critics say Most critics find Society of the Snow a harrowing, compassionate survival drama, with praise clustering around Bayona’s handling of the crash and his attention to the survivors’ bonds. The photography, editing and sound make the disaster feel frighteningly immediate, while the performances give the prolonged ordeal a human focus. Many reviews value the film’s spiritual concerns and its refusal to turn suffering into spectacle, finding tenderness in the camaraderie and disagreements. The reservations concern pace and psychological depth, though the spread runs from strongly moved to distinctly unconvinced. The Hollywood Reporter finds that the extended middle section drags, while IndieWire regards the characters as too psychologically schematic for the emotion to register fully. Slant Magazine offers the sharpest dissent, arguing that the reverence and restraint praised elsewhere weaken the impact. Even among the less persuaded critics, the disaster sequences and haunting visual details earn respect. ## Straight answers **Is Society of the Snow worth watching?** *Society of the Snow* is worth watching for its compassionate treatment of survival and convincing ensemble performances; we score it 81. We recommend it for those prepared for a harrowing drama in which caring for others matters as much as physical endurance, though the repetitive middle makes its 143 minutes feel long. **How long is Society of the Snow, and what is it rated?** *Society of the Snow* runs 2h 23m and is rated 16 by the ICAA in Spain. It is a drama and history film. **Where can I watch Society of the Snow in Spain?** *Society of the Snow* is streaming on Netflix in Spain. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service. **How violent or frightening is Society of the Snow, and is it suitable for children?** *Society of the Snow* has a UK 15 certificate and is unsuitable for children, with a violent, claustrophobic plane crash and sustained scenes of suffering. We found the crash horrifying because the photography keeps us close to vulnerable people with nowhere to escape; older teenagers and adults sensitive to confinement or physical distress should approach it with care. **How does Society of the Snow compare to Touching the Void?** *Society of the Snow* offers a more expansive account of shared survival, while [*Touching the Void*](https://film.one/film/touching-the-void) concentrates on climbers’ decisions and exhaustion through their accounts and convincing reconstructions. We favour *Touching the Void* for sustained suspense, despite its leisurely opening; *Society of the Snow* is the stronger choice for those drawn to relationships and mutual care, though its middle repeats itself. **What should I watch after Society of the Snow?** After *Society of the Snow*, try [*Touching the Void*](https://film.one/film/touching-the-void) (2003, Fi1m 87): Mountain survival stripped down to decisions, exhaustion and the will to continue. Then [*The Ascent*](https://film.one/film/the-ascent) (1977, Fi1m 88): A harsher snowbound ordeal, with faith and responsibility pressing on every choice; and [*The Rescue*](https://film.one/film/the-rescue) (2021, Fi1m 78): Collective ingenuity and nerve, with the practical work of survival kept visible. ### Reviews we read (22) - **Vulture**, Roxana Hadadi (90/100, inferred): Hadadi finds the film transcendent, praising its thoughtful exploration of faith and survival. She especially commends the performances and the tenderness among the survivors. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/article/review-society-of-the-snow-has-existential-bite.html?amp=&=) - **Empire**, Amon Warmann (85/100, inferred): Warmann finds the film affecting, praising Bayona’s handling of a grand survival story with an intimate human focus. He especially singles out the visceral crash sequence and the deeply felt camaraderie and disagreements among the survivors. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/society-of-the-snow/) - **Little White Lies**, Emma Fraser (3/4/4): Fraser calls it a visceral, harrowing survival drama that is also deeply human. She praises Bayona’s striking visual spectacle and the compassion with which the survivors’ ordeal is depicted. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/society-of-the-snow) - **Radio Times**, Matt Glasby (4/5): Glasby finds the survival thriller surprising and sensitive, and notably faithful to the historical ordeal. He praises its close adherence to survivors’ accounts and its use of interviews with those who lived through it. [Read](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-2i7sg7/society-of-the-snow) - **Sight and Sound**, BFI (80/100, inferred): The review regards the film as a compassionate and emotionally powerful retelling of the disaster. It particularly praises the balance between the crash’s dynamic action and the survivors’ prolonged psychological and emotional struggles. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/society-snow-survival-thriller-compassionate-retelling-andes-flight-disaster-story) - **Variety**, Guy Lodge (75/100, inferred): Lodge finds the film gripping and emotionally powerful, though its story offers few surprises. He praises Bayona’s visceral crash sequence and the film’s humane focus on the survivors’ bonds. [Read](https://variety.com/2023/film/festivals/society-of-the-snow-review-1235718496/) - **Los Angeles Times**, Mark Olsen (70/100, inferred): Olsen finds the film a gripping, spiritually inflected account of collective survival rather than a simple tale of perseverance. He praises Bayona’s visceral crash depiction and his focus on the survivors’ emotional struggle. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2023-12-22/society-of-the-snow-review-bayona-crash-survival) - **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (70/100, inferred): Bradshaw finds Bayona’s retelling fervent, heartfelt and powerfully told, despite overlooking some of the Andes ordeal’s darker mystery. He praises the film’s passionate, assured storytelling and its focus on the survivors’ agony and resilience. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/19/society-of-the-snow-review-cannibalism-in-the-ice-in-incredible-real-life-survival-tale) - **The New York Times**, Jeannette Catsoulis (70/100, inferred): The review presents the film as a harrowing, ultimately affecting survival drama. It singles out the visceral depiction of the crash and the survivors’ ordeal. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/04/movies/society-of-the-snow-review.html) - **Screen Daily**, Wendy Ide (65/100, inferred): The visible page does not reveal the critic’s verdict. It identifies the film’s true-life Andes plane-crash story, but no specific praise or complaint is accessible. [Read](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/society-of-the-snow-venice-review/5185290.article) - **The Hollywood Reporter**, David Rooney (65/100, inferred): Rooney finds the film uneven but ultimately effective, though its extended middle section drags. He praises the visceral crash sequence and the respectful, unsensational treatment of cannibalism. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/society-of-the-snow-review-j-a-bayona-netflix-1235591240/) - **IndieWire**, Ryan Lattanzio (C+): Lattanzio finds the film visually powerful but too psychologically schematic to make a strong emotional impact. He praises the harrowing disaster sequences and especially Michael Giacchino’s tense score. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/society-of-the-snow-review-j-a-bayona-1234904147/) - **The AV Club**, Courtney Howard (C+): Howard finds this adaptation respectful and possibly the best version yet, but incomplete and insufficiently deep. She praises Enzo Vogrincic’s performance and the film’s atmospheric cinematography and score. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/society-of-the-snow-review-another-take-on-a-harrowing-1851133176) - **Slant Magazine**, Steven Nguyen Scaife (30/100, inferred): The critic finds the film’s reverence and restraint ultimately weaken its impact. They praise the haunting visual moments that capture the survivors’ fear and disorientation. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/society-of-the-snow-review-j-a-bayona/) - **Deadline**, Pete Hammond (85/100, inferred): Hammond finds Bayona’s account a stunning, spiritual story of survival and humanity. He especially praises the crash sequence’s startling realism and Pedro Luque Briozzo Scu’s cinematography. [Read](https://deadline.com/2023/09/society-of-the-snow-review-j-a-bayona-1972-uruguayan-rugby-team-airplane-crash-closes-venice-film-festival-1235540481/) - **Eye for Film**, Amber Wilkinson (85/100, inferred): Wilkinson finds the film gripping and moving, praising Bayona’s restrained, tense account of collective survival. She singles out the visceral crash sequence and sound design for their impact. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/society-of-the-snow-2023-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) - **/Film**, Rafael Motamayor (85/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a spectacular, heartbreaking drama that offers a distinctive retelling of the Andes disaster. They single out its focus on the dead and their sacrifices rather than treating cannibalism as mere sensationalism. [Read](https://www.slashfilm.com/1487975/netflix-society-of-the-snow-andes-disaster-survival-story/) - **The Playlist** (81/100, inferred): The review frames Bayona’s film as a harrowing, soulful survival drama. Its headline emphasizes the human story of surviving in the mountains. [Read](https://theplaylist.net/society-of-the-snow-review-j-a-bayonas-disaster-in-the-mountains-drama-is-a-harrowing-soulful-story-of-survival-20240102/) - **Digital Spy**, Mireia Mullor (80/100, inferred): The critic finds the film a formidable, humanist survival drama that handles the tragedy with care. They praise its large-scale production, especially the terrifying crash sequence and convincing physical detail. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a46272578/society-of-the-snow-review/) - **Film Stories**, Ryan Lambie (80/100, inferred): Lambie finds the film a chilling, existential survival story that is bleak but ultimately compelling. He particularly praises the plane-crash sequence for its claustrophobic photography, dizzying editing and aggressive sound design. [Read](https://filmstories.co.uk/reviews/society-of-the-snow-review-chilling-true-life-survival-horror/) - **Paste**, Brianna Zigler (7.5/10): Zigler finds the film a brutal, thoughtful, and suitably restrained account of the tragedy, rather than a feel-good survival story. She praises Bayona’s horror-informed direction for conveying the crash and the survivors’ suffering without softening the dead’s humanity. [Read](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/netflix/society-of-the-snow-review) - **Collider**, Chase Hutchinson (7/10): The review finds the film gripping and emotionally profound, grounded in the humanity of its characters. It praises the immersive technical craft but says recurring narration can be reductive. [Read](https://collider.com/society-of-the-snow-review/) ## Details - **Director:** J. A. Bayona - **Director:** J. A. Bayona - **Screenplay:** J. A. Bayona, Jaime Marques, Bernat Vilaplana, Nicolás Casariego Córdoba - **Cinematography:** Pedro Luque - **Editor:** Andrés Gil, Jaume Martí - **Music:** Michael Giacchino - **Production design:** Alain Bainée - **Costume design:** Julio Suárez - **Producer:** Sandra Hermida, Belén Atienza Azcona, Philip Bolus - **Cast:** Enzo Vogrincic as Numa Turcatti; Agustín Pardella as Fernando "Nando" Parrado; Matías Recalt as Roberto Canessa; Esteban Bigliardi as Javier Methol; Diego Vegezzi as Marcelo Pérez del Castillo; Fernando Contigiani García as Arturo Nogueira; Esteban Kukuriczka as Adolfo "Fito" Strauch; Francisco Romero as Daniel Fernández Strauch - **Runtime:** 2h 23m - **Certificate (ICAA):** 16 - **Release (Spain):** 15 December 2023 - **Genres:** Drama, History - **Budget:** $66 million - **Box office:** $1,281 - **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDak4qLyF4Q ## Where to watch in Spain - Netflix: streaming *Checked 2026-10-03.* Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country. ## Awards - Academy Awards 2024: Best International Feature Film (nominated) - Goya Award for Best Film 2024: Goya Award for Best Film (won) - International Submission to the Academy Awards 2024: International Submission to the Academy Awards (nominated) ## If you liked this - *The Flight of the Phoenix* (1965): Another stranded group discovers that cooperation can be harder than the engineering. - *Touching the Void* (2003), Fi1m 87: Mountain survival stripped down to decisions, exhaustion and the will to continue. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/touching-the-void.md) - *The Ascent* (1977), Fi1m 88: A harsher snowbound ordeal, with faith and responsibility pressing on every choice. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-ascent.md) - *The Rescue* (2021), Fi1m 78: Collective ingenuity and nerve, with the practical work of survival kept visible. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-rescue.md) - *Arctic* (2018), Fi1m 75: For the same punishing cold with fewer speeches and a smaller cast. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/arctic.md) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/society-of-the-snow