Introduction
Based on the true account of a Uruguayan rugby squad who perished in the Andes Mountains in 1972, the 1993 film “Alive” illustrates their experience. The team is stranded without access to sufficient food, water, or shelter, and the movie depicts their struggle to survive. Through this narrative, the movie examines different leadership philosophies and group dynamics that emerge during severe adversity. This essay will go into the team dynamics, interactions, and leadership styles depicted in the film.
Leadership Styles: Antonio and Fernando
The movie featured two different leaders: Antonio and Fernando (referred to as Nando). In my opinion, Antonio is a born behavior leader who took off and started commanding right after the plane crash happened. He is one of the calmest characters in the tragic events and tries to stay positive throughout the movie’s first half. He made a responsible decision to ration food and drinks to prolong the survival and seal the plane using luggage to avoid a blizzard. Moreover, he continued reassuring the crew that the rescue team was coming to save them to boost their morale. He effectively used the team members’ strengths, such as engineering and medicine, as an advantage.
Fernando, who became an active character in the movie’s second half, is a situational leader type. His idea was for the crew to survive and rescue themselves rather than wait for help to save them. Nando set the team’s new objective of leaving the area independently after the search was abandoned. One of the decisions he suggested to the team was to start cannibalism to survive, as there was no food. This depicts how Nando is trying to solve the situational problem creatively.
Team Dynamics and Cooperation
The group in the movie continually tries to work together to support each other’s survival efforts. This can be seen in their cooperative efforts to build a shelter, gather food, and remain warm. The group starts to rely more and more on each other for emotional and spiritual support as the days go by. An example can be two survivors, one of which was harshly injured in the leg, who morally supported each other in one of the movie’s scenes. Another example is Roberto, in the movie’s first half, trying to support Nando and his sister physically and mentally, who is unconscious and unable to help. Crew members become closer friends and draw strength from their common experiences.
Conflict and Challenges
However, there were moments when survivors did not work as a team and resisted each other. One such moment is when everyone but several survivors were working. When one of the workers asked for help, the resting survivors refused, visibly plummeting the group’s morale. Another instance was the decision to turn to cannibalism to survive. Most of the team members resisted, arguing that it was highly inhumane and immoral, while others insisted that cannibalism was the only way to survive. Even though there were confrontations in the group, they were able to solve the problems and move on with surviving.
Learning Through Experience
Additionally, the group engages in “learning by doing” as they have to use creative methods to prolong their survival. Through hands-on training, knowledge and skills are acquired in this type of learning. For instance, the group learns how to build a fire solely from the materials found in the highlands. To shield themselves from the harsh weather, they also learned how to construct a shelter: they used luggage as a cover for the only opening of the crashed plane and made a shelter out of it. These decisions aid the group in surviving and help each member advance personally.
An example of “learning by doing” is the idea suggested by Roberto. He proposed the idea of using the cover of the airplane seats as additional clothing against freezing temperatures. Antonio approved the idea, and throughout the whole movie, we see crew members wearing seat covers on their feet. Another instance of learning is getting water in harsh weather. One of the survivors suggested using light-reflecting cover parts of the plane as a water source: the shiny parts would melt snow on the sun, thus making drinkable water for the crew. The team survived longer by creating such creative ideas and embracing the leader.
Decision-Making and Conflict Resolution
In making decisions as a group, the crew faces conflict in trying to survive. There needs to be more clarity over who should be in charge of the group and arguments over how to distribute the little food and water. It is difficult for the group leaders to persuade everyone else to follow their rules so that they can survive. For instance, to survive, Nando must persuade the group to consume the flesh of the crash victims. As mentioned earlier, some of the group members object to this choice, but Nando can ultimately persuade them of the necessity of the action.
Conclusion
Overall, “Alive” provides a compelling depiction of the various leadership philosophies and group dynamics that manifest themselves in the face of tremendous adversity. The movie’s protagonists serve as examples of the value of adaptability and resilience and the strength of teamwork and the human spirit. In the end, the group’s capacity for cooperation and mutual support enables them to persevere in the face of overwhelming odds.