The Great Alone

Alaska, 1974. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, returns from the Vietnam War a changed and volatile man. After losing another job he impulsively moves his family north to Alaska to live off the grid. Thirteen-year-old Leni, coming of age amid her parents’ turbulent relationship, hopes the move will give her a place to belong. Her mother, Cora, follows Ernt despite the risks. At first the remote community and long, sunlit days ease some hardship, and neighbors offer practical help, compensating for the Allbrights’ lack of preparation. But as winter brings eighteen hours of night, Ernt’s fragile mental state deteriorates and the family begins to fracture. Increasingly isolated, Leni and Cora discover that in Alaska they must rely on themselves to survive the mounting dangers both outside and within.