The story of Togo, the sled dog who led the 1925 serum run despite being considered too small and weak to lead such an intense race.
The historical film by the American director Ericson Core, which is dedicated to the events of the Great Mercy Race of 1925. The events of the film unfold around the drover Leonhard Seppala and his dog Togo, who went together the longest leg in the relay.—Peter-Patrick76 ([email protected])
The film flashes between musher Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe) raising his dog Togo and the 1925 serum run to Nome.In 1913, Seppala and his wife Constance (Julianne Nicholson) welcome a newborn Siberian Husky pup. While Seppala insists on immediately retiring him due to his small and weak state, Constance convinces him to raise him with the rest. The puppy Husky turns out to be a handful as he constantly escapes the kennel to usurp Seppala's dog team while he is out training them. After trying to get rid of the Husky twice, Seppala decides to have him run with the others where, to his astonishment, he discovers that he is energetic enough to outrun the other dogs. He decides to call him Togo (Diesel), after admiral Togo Heihachiro, and fully trains him to the point where he successfully wins the All Alaska Sweepstakes, earning both Togo and himself some local fame.
In 1925, a diphtheria outbreak occurs; mostly affecting children. Mayor George Maynard (Christopher Heyerdahl) plans to have the serum flown in from Nenana, but this proves to be impossible due to the severity of the weather. Eventually, Seppala is convinced to take Togo and the other dogs to collect the serum and race back despite the raging biblical storm. Constance becomes concerned due to Togo being 12-years-old (old for dog age), but Seppala insists on going. Seppala and his team tread through stormy weather and take a break at an outpost where a local doctor named Atiqtalik (Nive Nielsen) tells him that Togo is tired. Seppala continues on for miles; taking a dangerous shortcut across the now frozen Norton Sound.
Unknown the Seppala, the Nome town mayor had organized a relay from Nenana and the hope was that the incoming relay would connect with Seppala at the Atiqtalik cottage, which was a commonly known break point. But Constance was sure that Seppala had taken the Norton Sound shortcut, and that had reduced the odds of a rendezvous.
Eventually, Seppala meets up with the fellow musher from Nenana, Henry Ivanov (Brandon Oakes), who was bringing the serum and he is able to leave back for Nome the next day. Seppala and his team head across the Sound again where he is forced to have Togo pull a piece of ice that they are stuck on as the Norton Sound begins to crack apart. Reuniting with Atiqtalik, she tells him Togo is dying. Nevertheless, Seppala gets his team back to Joe Dexter's outpost as he, Togo and team recuperate. The serum is passed off to fellow musher Gunnar Kaasen (Shaun Benson) who arrives back in Nome. A reporter, confusing him for being the sole musher, announces his dog Balto as the hero who saved Nome, disappointing Constance.
Seppala returns to Nome later, where the entire town come to his house to celebrate Togo's success. Seppala later becomes upset when a cured girl named Sally (Madeline Wickins) deduces that Togo is dying. Seppala intends to continue training his dogs without Togo (who gained a small injury during the run), but he refuses to stop and chases down Seppala who welcomes him with open arms. Over the next two years, Togo welcomes puppies of his own that prove to be famous in their own right. Togo eventually passes away in 1929 with Seppala continuing to train dogs. A title card at the end reveals that while Balto had received a statue in his honor in NYC, Togo is remembered for making the longest run and for being the true hero of Nome.20 teams ran the serum run of 1925. 19 teams ran an average of 31 miles each. 1 team ran 264 miles.
