Row of Life
Interview with director Soraya Simi
Film opens at DCTV in NYC on June 19th. Check here for additional screenings and locations.
Describe the film for us in your own words
Angela Madsen is the American hero you haven't met yet, and ROW OF LIFE is a film that brings you into her remarkable world. Out to sea in a 20' rowing boat, the record-breaking Paralympian and Marine Corps veteran attempts to be the oldest woman and only paraplegic in the world to row solo and unassisted across the vast Pacific Ocean. Angela's partner, Deb, champions her dream from back on land -- despite what becomes the ultimate cost.
What drew you to this story?
Angela first asked me to "make a little video" on her solo ocean row after I just graduated USC film school. She'd seen a sailing documentary I'd made and wanted to work with a young woman who had experience with living at sea. At first I was quite intimidated by Angela (she had a Wikipedia page, 14 Guinness World Records, and Olympic bronze medals!). I told her I was too green and not the right fit, but because Angela and I both shared a passion for the sea and endurance sports, our friendship blossomed quickly. Gradually, it was abundantly evident that Angela was too unique as an individual and her story too important to not keep going.
What do you want people to think about?
I want people to reflect on the magnitude of Angela's life in 60 years, what she endured and how she consciously chose joy and authenticity above all. To me, that is the highest accomplishment in a lifetime. She was true to herself, and her love story with Deb and the way they supported each other in their personal truths is beautiful and worth pausing to consider what a broader definition of unconditional love could look like.
What was the biggest challenge in making this?
The biggest challenge was losing Angela. I was 23, it was the heart of COVID lockdown, and her passing was global sensationalized media for days on end. It was overwhelming in every way, losing my friend and first film subject on such a publicly scrutinized scale, and then to have that compounded with losing the boat and all the footage (or so we thought). It was a pinnacle experience for me in my life; I am a different person now because of it. At the same time, having something that serious to deal with at the start of my filmmaking career set an interesting bar. I have truly lived the worst case scenario, and even though much else in the process of making the film was exceptionally challenging, I knew if I could endure what happened in 2020, then I was capable of a lot more.
What was the development process? How did you get greenlit?
ROW OF LIFE is an independent film. I started it on a shoestring budget with recent film school grads, and then after the boat washed up, got a production company (Vacationland Studios) involved, who invested in taking it to the next stage. From there, we worked to privately finance the film through grants, private investors, and nonprofit organizations aligned with the storytelling themes. We've bootstrapped every step, which gave me the creative freedom to shape the film according to what I really needed to say. Now we are partnered with TOGETHXR, the largest women's sports media brand, and TIME Studios, one of the most prestigious media outlets in the world, and repped by WME. None of this happened overnight and was the outcome of advocating for this film on literally a daily basis, refusing to take no's as final answers. We are doing a worldwide film festival tour and theatrical run. All rights are available for distribution.
What inspired you to become a storyteller?
I grew up in Tucson, Arizona where the summers are hot. I spent the days inside transporting myself in the pages of books and in the universes of movies. Stories have always been a refuge for me. I am lucky to come from a geographically diverse family, too, so travel has always been a big part of my life. To me, travel is live-action storytelling where you are both the protagonist and audience, so I got used to seeing the world through a storytelling lens from as early as I can remember.
What’s the best and worst advice you've received?
Best - stay in your lane. You are on your own unique & irreplicable path. Don't look left and right to compare yourself with others. Just stay focused and true to what's in front of you. You are only in competition with yourself.
Worst - give up or sell your copyright for ROW OF LIFE (I didn't - and never will).
What advice do you have for other female creatives?
Fixate on all the ways being a woman lets you access the world in exceptional ways, rather than on the barriers. I believe if you choose to change your worldview and see femininity as infinite permission slips of what's possible, instead of the ways we're repressed or underrepresented, that confidence flings new doors wide open, and magic comes in waves.
Name your favorite woman directed film and why.
Point Break by Katherine Bigelow! As someone obsessed with big wave surfing, this cult classic is a bullseye for me. A perfect example too of how a female lens paired with a masculine plot adds depth to the characters and makes it more enriching for ANY audience member to get lost in the story.
Feel free to share anything else you would like people to know about this film.
We are as grassroots as it gets! Angela's story has the power to change the world and the way people see themselves in it. I really believe that. Anything you can do to see it, share it, and stay involved with the longer journey of ROW OF LIFE, we are incredibly grateful.