‘Snow Community’ is not a film aimed at teenagers. It isn’t prescribed to draw you in because of its subject matter or its proximity to real events. It chronicles a tragedy that happened in 1972, long before the current generation was born. The harsh imagery may feel unfit for some viewers, yet the story still resonated deeply with younger audiences. JA Bayona has crafted a work that speaks to teens more than many other coming-of-age dramas. The film earned Oscar nominations for Best International Feature and Best Makeup and Hairstyling, marking it as a notable entry at the ceremonies held in the early hours of Sunday, March 10.
Released on Netflix, the movie quickly rose to become one of the platform’s most watched non-English language titles. It sparked a wave of youth-focused content on social media, with TikTok videos and other platforms amplifying engagement. Audiences discussed the Andean tragedy, and many viewers revisited the film multiple times, read Pablo Vierci’s accompanying book, saved survivor interviews, and hunted for every available detail about the incident.
An unprecedented phenomenon
The film has become an unprecedented phenomenon within filmmaker Bayona’s career. Production notes have highlighted the confidence surrounding Snow Community, with some predicting it could follow in the footsteps of earlier global hits like Impossible, yet it surpassed those expectations in several ways. The project drew attention not only from adults but also from younger viewers who found themselves drawn into the narrative.
The availability of Snow Community on Netflix broadened its audience, making the tragedy accessible to a wider, global viewership. The film’s accessibility meant that facts about the disaster were easy to verify online, allowing viewers to cross-check details and context as they watched.
Social media also played a key role in shaping the film’s reception, contributing to a pronounced FOMO effect—the fear of missing out on a cultural conversation. Viral TikTok clips created a communal sense among viewers, even though the events depicted occurred more than half a century ago. The online discourse invited a younger demographic to participate, transforming a historical event into a contemporary dialogue.
A young idol
Recognizing the surge of online interest, Bayona organized an international gathering to engage with audiences and spectators via social media channels. This open line of communication was praised by industry insiders for its accessibility, giving the director a distinctive relationship with fans and critics alike. The closeness of this dialogue added a unique dimension to the film’s reception, highlighting the personal nature of the storytelling.
Although Snow Community marked Bayona’s latest feature project at the time, it also launched a new wave of teen stardom around the film’s central figure. Enzo Vogrincic, the young lead, became a focal point for the teen audience, drawing a large following online. The Uruguayan actor now commands millions of followers and is frequently recognized in public, a testament to the film’s cultural reach. For instance, while heading to the Goya Awards, a hotel lobby filled with young fans erupted in cheers upon spotting Vogrincic, underscoring the film’s impact. This moment also prompted reflections about whether the project was truly meant to be a movie deliberately targeted at adolescents, a question that lingered within the festival’s creative conversations.