Togo (2019)
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A historical drama follows the true story of a legendary sled dog and his musher during a desperate 1925 mission to deliver life-saving serum.
The story
The film flashes between musher Leonhard Seppala raising his dog Togo and the 1925 serum run to Nome to transport diphtheria antitoxin serum through harsh conditions during an epidemic of diphtheria. In 1913, Seppala and his wife Constance welcome a newborn Siberian Husky puppy to their sledding dog pack. Despite Seppala's initial hesitation, the pup proves to be a natural leader. By 1925, a diphtheria outbreak occurs in Nome, and because air delivery is impossible due to severe weather, Seppala is tasked with the perilous journey to collect the antitoxin and race back through the storm.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film intercuts between the upbringing of a spirited Siberian Husky named Togo and the 1925 serum run to Nome. In 1913, Seppala and his wife Constance take in a puppy that proves to be a natural leader, whom Seppala names Togo. By 1925, a diphtheria outbreak strikes Nome. When weather prevents air delivery of the antitoxin, Seppala is chosen to lead a team to fetch it. He takes the aging Togo along, despite his wife's concerns. The journey is perilous; they face storms and a dangerous shortcut across the melting Norton Sound. During the run, they meet other teams in a relay. On the return trip, the team becomes stranded on broken ice, and Seppala must throw Togo to shore to safety. Though Togo is exhausted and nearly dies, they reach the destination. A reporter mistakenly credits a dog named Balto as the hero, much to Constance's chagrin. The film concludes with the town celebrating Togo's success and the dog living out his days with Seppala, eventually becoming a legendary figure in Alaska.
- First release year
- 2019
- Runtime (minutes)
- 114
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Ericson Core
- Writers
- Tom Flynn · writer
- Cast and characters
- Willem Dafoe · Leonhard Seppala; Julianne Nicholson; Christopher Heyerdahl; Michael Gaston; Michael McElhatton; Jamie McShane; Michael Greyeyes; Thorbjørn Harr; Shaun Benson; Nikolai Nikolaeff
- Genres
- drama; survival
- Themes
- loyalty; heroism; determination; man-animal bond
- Tone and mood
- somber; heroic; affectionate
- Setting
- Nome, Alaska and the surrounding wilderness during 1913 and 1925.
- Premise and plot tags
- historical; survival; biographical
- Source material / true-story basis
- Based on the true story of the 1925 serum run to Nome.
- Reception
- The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for the performances, the visual scale, and the portrayal of the bond between man and dog.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 72 · scale: 100 · review count: 8
- Production trivia
- The film's visual effects were produced by DNEG, Lola VFX, Soho and CoSA VFX.; The film was originally scheduled for release on December 13, 2019.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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