ROW OF LIFE is a documentary premiering at SBIFF (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), and I had the opportunity to see an early look – here’s my Spoiler Free take:
ROW OF LIFE is a profound story about love, courage, and inclusion. Thanks to Angela Madsen, the film is inspirational. Watching her take her “row of life” is one of the most moving experiences I’ve had in recent memory. Also, that end-credit song, SHAME IS A RIVER, is still playing on repeat one week after seeing the film.
The story follows sixty-year-old Angela Madsen. A Marine Corps veteran, three-time Paralympian, and fourteen Guinness World record holder as she attempts to row by herself 2,400 miles from Los Angeles to Hawaii. Despite most of the film taking place in her boat and on the water, the film is actually a story of love between Angela and her wife, Deb. The two were separated by an ocean and utilized technology to share their love, support, and nurture daily. Witnessing two older women have such a deep, beautiful connection is heartwarming.
ROW OF LIFE is NYAD on a boat. Angela once said, “It can be absolutely terrifying, but being afraid isn’t a reason or an excuse to fail. I don’t want to be defeated by this or by anything.” Watching the woman behind this quote prove that “disability is not a death sentence” is the reason to see ROW OF LIFE. She’s a quiet, enigmatic force that’s a joy to watch continuously make history.
