Rowing Through (1996)

Beautiful visuals, sad story

I felt that there was too much unsaid concerning the relationships among the characters and the circumstances, and that this left the story murky and unsatisfying. Since the book is well rated, I assume that the story was not well translated into film. December 31, 2006

its not the rowing that sucks

A lot of rowers comment on the horrible technique of the actors who portray this Olympic level rowers. Hey, its not just that. Its the whole movie. The acting is baaad... the story line is baaad... Its not interesting at all! It gives the sport a horrible image cause, hey, the movie is dull as my scissors. The most exciting part of the film for me is when they showed the Montreal basin (I row there). I watched it simply for kicks tonight and unfortunately, will have to pay for it with my early 6am row tomorrow. June 7, 2006

ROWING THROUGH

My name is XENO and I took part as an extra in the movie.
Once I sat through the movie, I can safely say that Rowing Through is deadly boring. The movie drags on for ever. To us rowers, it is a known fact, that rowing skills shown by actors in motion pictures are mostly horrible. (The only capable actors were M.Streep and G. Davis.) Besides having made some pocket change back then as an extra, I am VERY HAPPY that NO ONE (in the small world of rowing) can tell that I was even remotely part of this failed attempt to portray a phenomenal Olympic effort.
XENO January 16, 2006

Rowing is often overlooked as a sport

Rowing is a rigorous sport and extremely competive on both personal and team levels. This film looks at this sport and shows what it takes to row and be competetive. September 2, 2005

Not quite "The Amateurs" on film but...

A darn good movie by any stretch. Yes, like the reviews below, the rowers "could" have been better. And yes, this is a sort-of tribute to Tiff Woods let's-film-The Amateurs-in-video. But really, it is so much more. For non-rowers, or those of lesser skills than enthusiasm (like me) it is a beautiful art-book-on-film complete with emotions. And given the few films out there on rowing, I would say the director did an admirable job. Certainly if you have non-rowing friends you wouldn't be ashamed to screen them this film to give them some sense of what the sport is all about. And compared to Oxford Blues, this is a visual and acting masterpiece! Don't let the hard-core rowers turn you off on this film. May 7, 2005

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