In 1995, Universal Pictures released an animated feature film called Balto. The story of a half Wolf half Dog who became the savior of a small Alaskan town by leading a team of sled dogs through a massive winter storm to deliver medicine to dying children. The only problem is that Balto was not the actual hero of this historical event. He was the last dog out of twenty Mushers who carried the medicine, so he got the majority of the credit. The real heroes who ran the vast majority of the journey (well over 200 miles) was a dog named Togo lead by a Musher named Seppala. Despite Balto taking most of the glory, including from then-President Calvin Coolidge, Togo is the most beloved hero in all of Alaska. Siring many puppies creating a new breed known as Seppala Siberians. Known for, among other things, their incredible bond with humans. Then, in 2011, Time Magazine named Togo as "the most heroic animal of all time." When I first learned about this, I was upset that there wasn't a proper film made about this truth, as it genuinely deserves such a treatment. Fortunately, someone took on the challenge and made it happen. Even better, the film itself is just as fantastic as its story.
Set in the small town of Nome Alaska in 1925, a massive Diphtheria pandemic sweeps across the area, hitting most of the children. Making matters worse is an incredible snowstorm that has severely limited delivery options for medicine. Their only course of action is to send a Sleddog team to Nenana to retrieve the medication and deliver it to Nome. A journey spanning well over 600 miles. Seppala and his dog team, lead by his best dog Togo, were the ones who left Nome to retrieve the antitoxin. With all the elements against them, it is not a question of "when" they get back, but "if."
While the main plot revolves around the historical event and Togo's accomplishments, It is not the entire film. The screenplay, penned by Tom Flynn, makes the intelligent move of dividing the film into two stories: the serum run event and Togo's early life as a puppy. While the latter part of the story is unsurprisingly adorable, it serves the essential purpose of showcasing the bond between Togo and Seppala. Not only does this move provide a better sense of narrative variation, but it also allows the audience to better sympathize with Togo and Seppala. The script does a beautiful job of balancing between tension and levity. Not at all surprising from the guy who wrote the underrated gem Gifted.
Visually, the film is gorgeous and creative. In addition to the beautiful landscapes and colorful images (even in the snowstorm scenes), the film boasts a specific artistic choice, which gives it a more distinct look. Though the film was captured on digital cameras, the movie features a unique filter that produces a subtle yet distinct effect. It creates a slight amount of degradation, mostly around the edge of the frame, often found in metallic photographs taken from the time in which the story takes place. It is a very subtle effect that can easily be overlooked, but it has an impact on the images that give them a more lively feel. It's a creative choice I would not mind seeing more of in future films.
The MVP award has to go to all the dogs who portrayed Togo and their trainer, Thomas Gunderson. Not only are they all adorable and fun, but they also carry the movie. Yes, Willam Dafoe does a great job with his role, and he has incredible chemistry with the dogs, but damn it, this is not his movie. Not to mention, they were all real dogs. I bring this up because of Disney's most recent theatrical outing, The Call of the Wild. Which was an okay movie, but most if not all of the dogs featured, especially the protagonist dog Buck, was entirely CGI. While I understand that it was likely necessary for that story, I can't help but think that it made the film feel...disingenuous in some way. As opposed to Togo, which utilizes real-life dogs. There's just something about how an animal moves and behaves that cannot be replicated well. Not to mention the usual superior results of giving an actor something or someone to interact with onset, as opposed to directing them to act against air. Sure, it can be used correctly in a different medium like animation, for example, The Lion King (the good one and not the remake). Even so, except for the new Planet of the Apes films, I have rarely seen CGI animals presented well in live-action. Let it be said that practicality is usually better than pixels.
Togo is a beautiful film that brings to light a real animal hero. It has a ton of heart, creative visuals, and a relevant story. At the time of this writing, the film is available on Disney's streaming service, Disney+. However you can see this film, I highly recommend you do so. I assure you, it is well worth your time.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes, I cried. Though not for the reasons you may think.
Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm, thank you all for reading.
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