There were 45, 16 were saved: “Surviving the Andes”, the real tragedy of death and cannibalism that comes to the theater

On October 13, 1972, a Uruguayan Air Force plane carrying a youth rugby team with their family and friends crashed into a cliff in the middle of the Andes mountain range. There were 40 passengers and five crew members. After 72 days at 4,000 meters high, enduring night temperatures of 40 degrees below zero, without food or water; 16 people managed to survive. “Survive the Andes” stages this incredible true story of survival, of constant struggle against “no” and hopelessness in the middle of nowhere. It is a revealing look at life on the brink of death and that while There is life, there is hope and maybe a tomorrow.

Directed by the Uruguayan Hugo Giachino and based on the book by Gabriel Guerrero, this theatrical piece comes to Peru for the first time after touring theaters in Uruguay and Argentina.

“It is truly a miracle that after 70 days of being on a snowy mountain in the Andes, these 16 boys have survived. It surprises many, it draws their attention that they have eaten human flesh to stay alive. Taking it away from what the concept of cannibalism may be, they were very Catholic, they held the spiritual issue high. What they did was take a part of each other to continue living. It is a story of hope, survival, struggle, solidarity and teamwork. It teaches us that we must overcome the mountains that appear in our lives, overcome them, take one more step and continue. It’s also a love story”says Giachino.

“Surviving the Andes” has Ismael La Rosa, Esteban Recagno, Luis José Ocampo, Fiorella Flórez, Gaizka Pasalodos, Stefano Tosso, Vasco Rodríguez, and Nicolás Argolo in the main roles.

“This work has been staged in other countries with great success. And in Peru it will have technological elements such as video mapping, which will make it more realistic”, details the Peruvian actor Ismael La Rosa.

“With Gabriel Guerrero, my partner, who is a psychologist and playwright, we did a lot of research to create the script. Not all the survivors appear in the work. Of the 16, only eight are there, but the others are also present in some way. And the scenery that we have created is impressive, it conveys that feeling of cold, snow, and mountains.”Giachino highlights. He also clarifies that it is a poetic work, which not only tells tragedy, but also humor and hope.

“There is part of laughing and getting people out of that sadness. The characters talk to you about pain, loss and hunger, but they also tell you that the only thing you can do is take one more step, live here and now, and not think about what happened or what may happen later. But simply live“, highlights the director.

Challenging role

La Rosa Fernandini He plays Roberto Canessa, the survivor who, together with his companion Fernando Parrado, undertakes the 10-day journey through the Andes mountain range to seek help. Due to his strong character and great strength he was nicknamed by his peers as ‘Muscle’. He was also one of the first to suggest feeding on the flesh of the deceased.

“The most difficult thing about my character is that – practically sweating – he has to be warm and feel so cold that his hands, legs and voice shake. And between the difficulty in speaking and breathing, there was no room for sensitivity. Fernando’s sister and mother die, but I couldn’t cry because if I did I would waste salt. Imagine the level of coldness. It was the only way to survive”, explains the Peruvian actor.

“Before they found a way to melt snow and put it in a bottle, they ate ice, but it made their lips crack and they got scurvy. Then they discover that the only way to get ahead was to eat protein from their fallen comrades.”, he emphasizes.

“Surviving the Andes” runs from September 8 to 24 at the Melitón Carvajal auditorium in Lince. Tickets are on sale at Teleticket.