Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6560 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-03-18
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Dubbed, PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish
• Dubbed in: French, German, Italian, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 121 minutes

Special Features
English
Region 2

Synopsis
ALIVE is a gripping drama based on a true story. In October 1972, a plane chartered by a Uruguayan rugby team crashes in the snow-covered Andes Mountains. Many passengers are killed on contact, but most people survive--with only enough rations for a short time. Given the harsh climate and lack of food, the survivors are forced to take drastic measures to stay alive. When they learn through their transistor radio that the search effort for their plane has been aborted, three young men (played by Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, and Josh Hamilton) attempt to cross the Andes in search of civilization.

Customer Reviews

ONE OF THE GREATEST SURVIVAL STORIES EVER TOLD...
This 1993 docudrama capably illustrates the plight of those who were on the plane that crashed in the Andes mountains in October 1972. A Uruguayan rugby team, their friends, and relatives had chartered a plane to fly them from Montevideo, Uruguay to Santiago, Chile for a rugby match. Forty five people went down with the plane, high up in the Andes mountains. Seventy days later, only sixteen of them were still alive. This film is the story of their struggle to survive and the lengths to which they went to ensure that they would.

The film was done in collaboration with some of the original survivors in order to lend authenticity of detail to the film. The filmmakers tried to recreate the experiences of those who were trapped in the mountains and were forced to resort to anthropophagy in order to survive. It is a well made film, which attempts to depict the ordeal of those who were on that ill fated flight. It pretty much follows the events outlined in the book of the same name by Piers Paul Read.

The movie has breathtaking scenery of snow capped mountains. The crash of the plane is one of the most harrowing on film. The treatment of the issue of anthropophagy is not sensationalized and is grounded in the context of the faith of those who were on that fateful flight. All in all, the film is a well made and well cast accolade to the endurance and faith of those who were on that ill fated flight and struggled to survive, despite the odds against them. It is certainly well worth watching.

One of the best films ever made
Without repeating what the other reviews have said about the plot. This is one of the best films made in the 90's and depicts a true story of the plight of a remarkable group of young people struggling against the awesome power of mother nature. Time and again surviving tragedy after tragedy. You see the natural leadership of the Rugby team captain crushed when he realises the search for them has been called off, and the strength of character of Nando and Kenessa (spell check please) who take over leadership and decide that canibalism is the only way they will get strength enough to climb their way out of the mountains to get help. They are a highly moral and religious group of people and this film sensitively shows how they struggle with the need to survive and the need to be able to live with themselves if they DO survive by eating the remains of their dead friends and family.

This really is a must see film. If you havent seen it then buy it, or at least ring me and I'll lend you mine!

How did they manage ?
They should have died within days of the crash but sheer determination and a bit of luck kept them alive.

This 1993 docudrama narrated by John Malkovick and starring Ethan Hawke and Vincent Spano recreates very well the difficulties of the survivors, drama mixed with moments of desperation and hope , in the middle of winter in the top of the Andes. Is difficult not to get absorbed in the tremendous decisions they took to stay alive.

The fact that most of the actors can't pronounce Spanish very well is slightly annoying.

Stranded is a modern version of the story shot with a much darker twist but sadly is not easily available.

4 1/2 stars.