After years of anticipation, The Snow Society by JA Bayona arrives with a focus on endurance and humanity. Set in 1972, the film chronicles the survival story of Uruguayan travelers while honoring resilience, generosity, and shared courage. A month after its debut, Bayona remains a prominent voice in cinema, with five showings by the director scheduled for this Thursday at Lys cinemas.
Snow Society surpasses its debut in Oscar race in four categories
It took more than a decade to bring the project to life. When funding dwindled, the process looked perilous. Financing for a Spanish-language film with relative newcomers was hard to secure through traditional channels. Netflix stepped in, providing both financing and the creative freedom needed to realize the director’s vision. With this support, the project could finally reach theaters as intended.
netflix behind a platform like Netflix
Streaming redefines how audiences access the film. The model emphasizes platform availability while still permitting select projects to shine on the big screen. Being among those opportunities is a lucky outcome for the team.
Over more than ten years, conversations with survivors and family members shaped the project. A careful, evolving approach helped them understand the viewpoint and tone of the film. The response has been largely positive and collaborative, with survivors and the families of those who died taking part openly.
From the first meeting in Montevideo to the ongoing dialogue, the agreement was clear. Support remained strong, even after the finished film was shown.
The experience was deeply moving. Neither survivors nor the families of the deceased had read the script in advance, yet their input helped shape the final product. The responsibility to accurately portray their lives weighed heavily. The premiere drew a warm reception, with applause and embraces after decades of silence.
What surprised the team the most about the stories? The details were endlessly striking. Preconceptions, often shaped by cinema tropes, faded when direct accounts came forward. Continuous collaboration with survivors kept the narrative anchored in lived experience rather than myth.
One moment stands out, as the audience recognizes themselves in the story and imagines their own path in a similar crisis.
The film invites viewers to walk in another’s shoes. It acts as a mirror, prompting reflection on personal limits and the values that truly matter. The choices made under extreme pressure reveal a universal reckoning about priorities.
Cannibalism is handled with care. The focus remains on collective resilience and the sacrifices that enable safety, avoiding sensational detail.
Was shooting in the snow an easy task? The production demanded constant adaptation to the mountains. Working at high altitude mirrored real conditions, with planes assisting at various elevations. Even so, the landscape did not stop the crew; it shaped performances and the interpretation sought from the actors.
Were there moments when giving up felt tempting? Financing challenges surfaced, yet filming never paused. The perseverance of the survivors and their families kept the team energized through every hurdle.