LOS ANGELES, CA – Surviving a plane crash, two avalanches, and a harrowing ordeal in the Andes, Roberto Canessa has become a living testament to resilience and the will to survive. At the age of 19, Canessa and his fellow members of the Uruguayan rugby team faced death and defied the odds to make it out alive. Their incredible story is now the subject of a new Netflix movie, set to be released on January 4.
Directed by J.A. Bayona, “Society of the Snow” chronicles the team’s journey after their plane crashed in the Andes in 1972. The film brings to life the harrowing 72-day struggle for survival that tested the limits of human endurance.
For Canessa, now 70, the movie is a way to impart a message of hope and resilience to the generations to come. He sees their story as a symbol of overcoming personal challenges and urges others to persevere, no matter the circumstances.
The film’s title, “Society of the Snow,” highlights the pact that the survivors made with each other when they realized they were left to fend for themselves. Their battle for survival, from making their own water to resorting to cannibalism, was a tragic but powerful testament to their determination to live.
The movie has garnered attention for its powerful storytelling and has been selected as the closing film at the Venice Film Festival. Nominated for several prestigious awards, including the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards, “Society of the Snow” is Spain’s official entry for the Oscars.
Canessa hopes that the film will prompt audiences to reflect on their own challenges and find inspiration in the survival story of the Andes. His message is one of perseverance and taking life one step at a time, knowing that there is always hope, no matter the circumstances. The movie is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a story that continues to inspire generations.