The brand new documentary Row of Life captures Marine veteran and three-time Paralympian Angela Madsen’s 2020 try and row from California to Hawaii on her personal. Madsen, 60, sought to develop into the primary paraplegic, first overtly queer athlete, and the oldest lady to row the Pacific Ocean solo.
With 2,400 miles of ocean to cowl in 100 days, Madsen alternated between rowing and resting each two hours. It was bodily and mentally intense. Her palms had been coated in calluses and her backside coated in sores.
Row of Life was the identify of Madsen’s 20-foot-long, 6-foot-wide, custom-built ocean rowing boat. It was geared up with GPS, a satellite tv for pc cellphone, photo voltaic panels to generate energy, and a desalinator that turned ocean water into secure consuming water. 150 days’ value of meals was saved in its deck hatches, and Madsen’s spouse, Debra, hid notes of encouragement for Madsen to seek out in her snack packs.
The documentary provides a nuanced take a look at Madsen’s life. From a botched surgical procedure that paralyzed her whereas on energetic responsibility within the army, to turning into a Paralympic athlete in each rowing and observe and subject, to assembly and falling in love together with her spouse, Madsen was a pressure. She rowed throughout the Atlantic Ocean twice, traversed the Indian Ocean and circumnavigated Nice Britain.

Madsen was planning to retire after rowing throughout the Pacific, however midway by her journey, on day 60, she died whereas doing repairs on the boat within the water. Row of Life is an eternal tribute to Madsen’s life and is well worth the watch.
Row of Life will open at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema in New York on June 19, forward of a nationwide theatrical rollout.

