A potent film about the miracle of life and the power of hope

In 2010, the eyes of the world turned to Chile, where 33 miners had been buried alive by the catastrophic collapse of a 100-year-old gold and copper mine. Over the next 69 days, an international team worked night and day in a desperate attempt to rescue the trapped men as their families and friends, as well as millions of people globally, waited and watched anxiously for any sign of hope. But 200 storeys beneath the surface, in the suffocating heat and with tensions rising, provisions - and time - were quickly running out.

A story of resilience, personal transformation and triumph of the human spirit, the film takes us to the Earth's darkest depths, revealing the psyches of the men trapped in the mine and depicting the courage of both the miners and their families who refused to give up.

Gripping true story of survival

Based on the gripping true story of survival - and filmed with the cooperation of the miners, their families and their rescuers - The 33 is a powerful film that captures the never-before-seen actual events that unfolded, above and below ground, which became nothing less than a worldwide phenomenon. The33movie.net

Now, as we pass the five-year anniversary of the historic rescue, the feature film The 33 shows for the first time the ordeal of the miners and their brave battle to survive even when faced with the grim reality that help might never reach them.

It also reveals the hope and resolve of their families, who did not know if their loved ones were even still alive, but would not let them be forgotten, as well as the determination of the rescuers who surmounted every hurdle in bringing them home.

Director Patricia Riggen states: "This movie is about being trapped and alone and facing death, but it is equally about having faith and, in a way, coming back to life. It's about rebirth and the strength of the human spirit and so much more.

"One of the first things that drew me to the project," she continues, "was realising how many people were touched by this story. In developing the film, I wanted to explore what it was that moved people around the world. What made them so invested in the lives of 33 men they would never know?"

A special connection

Producer Mike Medavoy felt a special connection to the story having lived in Chile for 10 of his formative years. He first met a group of the Chilean miners when they visited Los Angeles shortly after their rescue. As they began sharing their personal stories, Medavoy recalls: "The clock turned back to when I was 17. It reminded me of the generosity of spirit and humour of the Chilean people. But I knew the film would have to be more than just about their plight. The film isn't just the ending everyone saw; it's the personal stories of the people, both above and below ground, who held on to their love and their faith for an outcome that seemed impossible."

Antonio Banderas, who stars as the de facto leader of the miners, Mario Sepúlveda, remembers following the events as they unfolded on television. Though he portrays one of the men trapped in the mine, he says: "The key, for me, was that the efforts to rescue the miners were successful because of the families pushing the government to do something. To fully understand this story, you have to see both the down and the up - what happened in the mine and what happened above. When you get the whole picture, it says so much about love and the value of individuals. It's a celebration of life."

"This movie is life-affirming," echoes Lou Diamond Phillips, who stars as miner Luis Urzua. "There is humanity, there is hope, there is inspiration and an absolute tribute to faith in every frame. And because it is based on a true story, it can reinforce our belief in the human spirit. We are not manufacturing heroes in this film; we are simply shining a light on real people who became heroes."

When the 33 men descended into the mine that typical August day, they were anonymous. Sixty-nine days later, they emerged as celebrities, but there were drawbacks to their unexpected fame. Producer Robert Katz observes: "All of a sudden, 33 unknown, hard-working men were turned into a global phenomenon. These ordinary guys were being hailed by the entire world, which played into their emotional states and interpersonal relationships."

A united front

However, the men, having already been told of the fame that awaited them above, had formed a united front, agreeing to tell their story collectively to a single writer. They chose Pulitzer Prize-winning author Hector Tobar, whose resulting book, Deep Down Dark, became a critically acclaimed New York Times best seller. It also became part of the basis of the screenplay for The 33, written by Mikko Alanne, Craig Borten and Michael Thomas, from a screen story by José Rivera.

The director concludes: "Having the opportunity to tell this story was so special to me and everyone else involved. Our primary goal in making this film was to remind audiences of the courage and grit of the miners, the unwavering faith of their loved ones, and the tenacity of experts and workers who came from all over to rescue the 33. Five years ago, their story inspired and united millions in every corner of the globe, and that feeling of hope deserves to be remembered - now and always."

Read more about this film and other new releases on the big screen at www.writingstudio.co.za