ALIVE (Theatrical Release USA 1993)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.6|5.0 Starsìììì

Alive is based on the true story of Andes plane crash survivors as detailed in the novel Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors. The movie follows the regular flow of survival movies: 1) believing there will be help, 2) realizing help is not arriving, 3) finding a feasible way to survive 4) developing a plan 5) executing the plan until 6) the plan brings relief or doesn’t bring relief. The film doesn’t employ outstanding acting talent; but despite this, if one hasn’t seen a survival story recently, this one fulfills that need nicely. As an aside, notice how clean the clothes are and how short the beards are despite survivors spending 72 days without hygienic needs met.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

After Uruguay’s Flight 571 crashes in the Andes, survivors find themselves without necessary survival equipment or supplies. Throughout the first several days, survivors stay with the body of the plane while relying on radio transmissions that search parties are working to find them. When the 9-day search is called off, they finally realize they will have to find their way out of the Andes on their own.

Additional Thanks

Thank You to Director Frank Marshall for his directing efforts. Thank you to Producers Kathleen Kennedy and Robert Watts for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Nando Parrado (Ethan Hawke), Antonio Balbi (Vincent Spano), Roberto Canessa (Josh Hamilton), Carlitos Páez (Bruce Ramsay), Antonion Vizintin (John Newton), Gustavo Zerbino (David Kriegel), Harley (Kevin Breznahan), and Javier Methol (Sam Behrens).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s survival education that hasn’t been embellished upon to the point that it is more fiction than truth.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers