The Great Alaskan Race Parent Guide

Leonhard Seppala (played by Brian Presley) came to Alaska during the 1917 gold rush hoping to make a fortune. Instead he found a land and a people where he could make a new home. Falling in love with the rugged landscape and an Inuit woman (Talliah Agdeppa), Seppala embraces the lore of the land, learns to hunt, and becomes a master musher (commander of a dog sled team).

Still, it is a harsh environment and those who dwell there are no strangers to tragedy. Seppala becomes acquainted with grief himself after a flu epidemic sweeps through Nome in 1918, killing many, especially those in the indigenous population.

Then in 1925 Seppala and his young daughter (Emma Presley) face a similar horror when a diphtheria outbreak threatens their small hamlet, and especially the children living there. Community doctor Curtis Welch (Treat Williams) knows there is an antitoxin that can be used to combat the contagious disease, but his meager supply has passed its expiration date, and the nearest source of more medication is hundreds of miles away.

The local city council (Brad Leland) collaborates with the State Governor (Bruce Davison) via telegraph to figure out a plan for getting the antitoxin to their remote town – which is no small feat because the closest harbour is already frozen over for the winter, train tracks are blocked in snow and there is a blizzard raging. While there is some talk about trying to use a new-fangled airplane to accomplish the task, there is great concern the mechanical contraption may not be capable of making the voyage due to the severe weather. The other alternative is using old-fashioned dog sleds to transport the medicine almost 700 miles. Seppala becomes one of twenty mushers who volunteers to relay the life-saving serum from Nenana to Nome through extreme conditions.

If this tale is starting to sound familiar, it’s no surprise. The true story of the Alaskan serum run is quite famous. It has been put to film before in Balto (1995) and is scheduled to appear again in Togo (2019).This version focuses more on the humans than the canines, although both people and pups come off as the heroes in this miracle marathon.

Parents considering introducing their children to this inspirational piece of history with this movie should be aware it includes some depictions of animal deaths – one where a hunter’s hands and face are seen covered in blood. Human lives are also in peril because of exposure and illness. And characters occasionally smoke, drink and cuss.

Written, directed, edited and starring Brian Presley, The Great Alaskan Race feels a little homegrown and sentimental. Yet it is obviously made with heart – and that may melt some viewers’ inclination toward cold criticism.

About author

Donna Gustafson

Donna Gustafson has been involved with her husband Rod's work since the beginning. Handling many of the behind-the-scenes tasks, she also creates preview pages for up-coming movies, acts as managing editor and occasionally writes reviews.