Iron Will1994Iron Will
1994
In the winter of 1917, after a tragedy leaves his family's South Dakota farm in debt, seventeen-year-old Will Stoneman enters a grueling 522-mile dogsled race from Winnipeg to St. Paul. Facing seasoned mushers, brutal cold, and rivals who play dirty, he has only his father's lead dog and his own will.
The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.
Why it’s here
After his father's death, a young man enters a brutal race to save the family farm. A picture of grit, honest work, and a son taking up his father's burden.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Will witnesses his father's death in an icy accident, a dog is badly injured in a fight, and rival mushers attack, which is intense for little ones. "Damn," "hell," drinking, and cigars.
Iron Will (1994)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- Why did Will enter the race?
- What kept Will going when he was ready to quit?
- What did the newspaper reporter want from Will? Did that change?
- What did Will's father mean to him, even after he was gone?
Content advisory
Common Sense Media 8+: a father's death, a dog badly hurt in a fight, a musher attacked; "damn" and "hell"; drinking and cigars.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
Iron Will (1994)
DVD · April 23, 2002
Edition link coming soon.
Listing on Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.