Movie

The Year Of The Dog: Indie Movie About A Stray And His Rescue

Alcoholic and his Alaskan husky [Image @theyearofthedogmovie/Instagram]

The Year of the Dog is a new, indie film, based on real events. The movie was made by Rob Grabow, who sold his condo and threw everything into making it. In fact, Grabow went on to spend years in Alaska, working around and meeting people. Meanwhile, this included a dogsled musher, who was going through a difficult time with alcoholism and addiction. However, he credited his sobriety mostly to one of his dogs, a high-spirited Alaskan husky.

About The Year of the Dog

Yup’ik the Alaskan husky [Image @theyearofthedogmovie/Instagram]

In the movie itself, a loner alcoholic finally finds a path to recovery after he meets a stray dog with a unique talent. The movie stars Michael Spears, Rob Grabow himself, Jon Proudstar, Jeff Medley and Alyssa Groenig. Judging by the trailer included in this article, the movie does look a little rough around the edges, but the indie film is full of heart and soul, with an adorable husky leading the cast.

Plot of the indie movie

Official poster [Image @theyearofthedogmovie/Instagram]

The Year of the Dog follows Matt, an alcoholic who is at rock bottom and struggling to maintain sobriety. After Matt spends 48 hours in the drunk tank, he takes refuge at his sponsor, Fred’s farm, just outside a close-knit Montana town. Meanwhile, he is hoping to reach his 30 days sober, so he can visit his mother before she dies.

Matt, the short-fused and stubborn man, finds a stray dog and decides to keep him, despite Fred’s objections that it would cause more stress. In fact, the husky, named Yup’ik, is, admittedly a handful. Moreover, he has the same personality as his new owner, stubborn, short-fused and erratic.

While Matt isn’t truly equipped to care for Yup’ik, the husky dog bonds with Matt. He eventually helps Matt to live and accomplish his goals. Watch the trailer for The Year of the Dog included here:

Behind the scenes of The Year of the Dog

The indie movie is co-directed by filmmakers, Rob Grabow, Michael Peterson and Andrew McGinn. All three are making their feature directorial debut. Meanwhile, Grabow wrote the screenplay, based on a true story. The movie was filmed in Bozeman, Livingston and Paradise Valley.

The Year of the Dog [Image @theyearofthedogmovie/Instagram]

The movie will premiere at the 2022 Chelsea Film Festival during the fall, with a release expected late this year. Readers can find more information about the movie on the official website.

Readers, after watching the trailer, are you intrigued to watch this clearly moving indie movie? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below.

Anne Sewell

Freelance, TV and travel writer and mom to two rescue dogs who has spent most of her life in southern Africa and is now living on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain.

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