Society of the Snow

"The Andes tragedy that occurred in the early '70s is one of the most harrowing - and also famous and media-covered - survival stories of the 20th century, already adapted to the screen in films like "Alive," directed by Frank Marshall. What, then, can be said anew? Not much, but Spanish director J.A. Bayona (The Impossible) wisely chooses to refine not the "what" but the "how." "Society of the Snow" could be the definitive account of this challenging story, and here the director heightens the equitable doses of dread, terror, and hope that the protagonists went through, in a way that can be tearful but never sensationalist or that strays too far from the facts. If you enjoy survival narratives based on true events, or if you're approaching this story for the first time, it's an excellent choice."