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| Movie Review: Stranded: I have come from a plane that crashed in the mountains) Alternate Title: Staying Alive
Story: Some stories capture
the imagination. This one has fascinated me for 36 years. In October
of 1972, a Uruguayan flight carrying students, parents and alumni from
Stella Maris College to a rugby match in Chile crashed in the Andes.
Out of the 45 on the plane an incredible 29 survived the original crash
and 16 ultimately made it back to civilization some 72 days later.
This survival tale made headlines around the
world when these boys came out of the mountains and it was revealed
that they survived by resorting to cannibalism. Yes, that part of the
drama is great fodder for retelling and form some ghoulish thoughts,
but for me, being able to survive as a group, work as a team, do what
they had to do to survive and that two of the boys managed to walk out
of the Andes to get help is the real heart and soul of the story.
Writer/director Gonzalo Arijon
was able to interview all 16 survivors and accompany them back to the
crash site to pay homage to those left behind. It is moving, heartfelt
and even when you know what is going to happen, compelling story telling.
The survivors are all still friendly to this day. The archival footage
seen at the end of the film is worth the price of admission.
Check out some amazing photos from the official
website here: http://www.viven.com.uy/571/eng/FotosIneditas.asp
Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7ULqMm_3TA Acting: Arijón interviewed all sixteen survivors:
José Pedro Algorta, Roberto Canessa, Alfredo "Pancho"
Delgado, Daniel Fernández, Roberto “Bobby François,
Roy Harley, José Luis "Coche" Inciarte, Álvaro
Mangino, Javier Methol, Carlos “Carlitos” Páez, Nando
Parrado, Ramon "Moncho" Sabella, Adolfo “Fito”
Strauch, Eduardo Strauch, Antonio “Tintin” Vizíntin,
and Gustavo Zerbino.
Trivia: There have been four films based on the event
including: Trapped: Alive in the Andes (documentary-2007)
Alive: The Miracle of the Andes (1993) It explores the lives of
the survivors twenty years after the crash. Supervivientes de los
Andes (1976) This was a Mexican production directed by René
Cardona jr. It was based on the unauthorized 1973 book, Survive by Clay
Blair. Books based on the event include: Parrado, Nando
(with Vince Rause). Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain
and My Long Trek Home. Read, Piers Paul. Alive: Sixteen Men,
Seventy-two Days, and Insurmountable Odds -- The Classic Adventure of
Survival in the Andes. Enrique Hank Lopez. They Lived on Human
Flesh
Predilection: I have been fascinated by this event
ever since it happened. I have seen all of the films and read all of
the books on the subject. I like tales of incredible human feats.
Critters: Goats, sheep and horses.
Food: Gulp. Probably not a good idea to discuss in
detail the food that this film includes on its menu.
Visual Art: The Andes are spectacular as photographed
by Cesar Charione (The Constant Gardener, City of God).
Theater Audience: Pretty crowded.
Weather: Brrrrrrrrrrrr
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I did not drift at all but there were
lots of snow drifts.
Predictability Level: I am very familiar with the
story so there were no surprises for me.
Tissue Usage: I welled up towards the end.
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine as would
rental for the other films on this topic.
Length: Two hours
LOBO HOWLS: 7.5
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