Alive MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +3 Content: -2

Alive> chronicles the true story of the members of a South American rugby team after their plane crashes deep in the Andes mountains in 1972. The front half of the cabin lands fairly intact with about 27 survivors. After the violent crash landing, the rest of the movie tells the story of how the majority of these men survive the brutal winter in the Andes while waiting for help that never comes. After nine days, the search for them is called off and the men slowly come to realize they must rescue themselves. At first, Antonio Balbe (Vincent Spano) serves as leader of the survivors. The pressure is too great for him, however, and Nando Pasado (Ethan Hawke) takes over. The lengths they must go to stay alive finally become clear as they run out of food. Like the famous account of the Donner party, they are forced to resort to the cannibalism of their dead friends. Alive> is certainly a graphic movie and would only be appropriate for mature adults. The terrible realism of the situation makes this movie stirring, suspenseful, and a strong cathartic experience. People interested in this fateful crash will appreciate this well-made docudrama.

That the movie accurately portrays the real events of the crash is commendable, but a sense of realism could have been maintained without showing unnecessary graphic gruesome details. These include a man's head smashing against the front of the cabin and the cutting of human flesh a few times in preparation to eat the dead. Also, the survivors are shown eating the flesh a few times. Undesirable language is limited to five s-words and one f-word, along with some regular profanity. On a positive note, several members of the group voice their strong reliance on God. Throughout the ordeal almost all in the group pray together for deliverance. This religious atmosphere is portrayed positively, and one man's faith is especially instrumental in keeping the morale of the men up. On the issue of eating human flesh, the group agonizes over their decision. Several religious and social questions are debated and the group does not take its actions lightly. For its overly graphic depiction of cannibalism and several obscenities, Alive> cannot be given a positive content rating. However, it does dramatically portray the indomitable nature of the human spirit in reliance on God.

Preview Reviewer: Greg Wilson
Distributor: Buena Vista Distribution, 500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521