Trivia: Nando Parrado has a cameo in the beginning of the film, as the team coach appearing in some of the pictures. He also served as technical advisor for the film.
Trivia: The guy who first follows Parrada and Canessa on their expedition to find Chile is nicknamed Tintin. In one of the most famous Tintin albums the cartoon hero goes to the Himalayas to find a friend who is reported dead after a plane crash in the mountains. Most likely a coincidence, but still notable.
Trivia: The Fairchild crashed on Friday the 13th of October.
Trivia: John Malkovich is never credited for his appearance as older Carlitos in the beginning and end of the film.
Trivia: The survivors are called by their real names, while the people who died have been renamed for the film. The only exceptions are Lilliana Methol, and Nando's mother and sister.
Answer: Keeping in mind that some parts of the audience were not familiar with the details of this story, using Paez as the narrator retains some of the suspense of Canessa and Parredo's journey across the Andes. If the audience is not told at the start that they survive, at least some viewers may have considered that one of them may die during their trek to civilization.