Soraya Simi’s Row of Life Completes Angela Madsen’s Final Journey
For those who knew Paralympic athlete and Marine Corps veteran Angela Madsen, Soraya Simi’s documentary Row of Life offers something precious: closure.
Row of Life transforms an unexpected journey into something powerful – a testament to resilience that brings Madsen’s story home to audiences worldwide.
“I feel bad and I miss her, but I think because I’ve spent so much time confronting these emotions and making art out of it, you transfer a feeling into something tangible,” says Simi. “For me now, it’s not so much on the side of sadness, but really like incredible gratitude that I had any time with her.”
The connection between Simi and Madsen began unexpectedly. In summer 2019, Simi – fresh out of film school – received a Facebook message from Madsen, who had seen her sailing documentary. Madsen was planning to row solo across the Pacific Ocean at age 60 and wanted Simi to document her journey.
“I Googled who this person was and was extremely impressed that someone with a Wikipedia page was talking to little old me,” says Simi.
The project grabbed the filmmaker immediately. She was drawn to Madsen’s unique profile in extreme sports.
“Her being 60 years old, which is considered old for athletes, a woman, obviously disabled, a Marine Corps veteran, this proud-to-be-gay woman … I thought that checked a lot of boxes for me of telling a story about someone who is inherently different,” Simi says.
For nearly a year, Simi gathered footage – training sessions, interviews, daily life moments. They rigged Madsen’s boat, named Row of Life, with approximately 12 cameras and numerous SD cards, with Madsen responsible for filming herself once at sea.
But in June 2020, everything changed dramatically when Madsen died while attempting to become the first paraplegic and oldest woman to solo row across the Pacific Ocean from California to Hawaii.
“There’s no overstatement of how much it changed everything,” Simi says. “It was a super big shock to me. I was 23 years old at the time, and it was extremely public. It was worldwide news for several days in a row.”
What began as a sports achievement documentary suddenly became something much more complicated and profound. The project might have ended there – but then came a moment Simi will never forget.
“I remember where I was … I had my hand on the doorknob, and I was like, just pure shock. And I just screamed, like, ‘Oh, my God,’” Simi says of learning that Madsen’s boat had been discovered in the Marshall Islands over a year after it was lost at sea.
In an extraordinary coincidence, the boat washed up on Mili Atoll – the very same location where pieces of Amelia Earhart’s plane were discovered decades earlier.
“I consider her [Madsen] a historic figure on the same level as Amelia Earhart,” Simi says.
The documentary took viewers to unexpected places, including what Simi describes as “the ultimate perfect white sand beach” with “crystal clear water” to view what was left of the boat Madsen called home for 60 days before her passing.
“It just felt like everything had come full circle,” Simi explains. “It’s like witnessing something move onto its next life in its way.”
The film evolved significantly, incorporating archival footage from Madsen’s previous rowing expeditions and expanding its focus.
“Debra Bogan-Madsen, Angela’s partner and wife, in effect becomes the main character of the film,” Simi explains. “We move through her journey as Angela’s life partner.”
This journey of creation tested Simi’s resolve countless times.
“What kept me going was Angela’s spirit,” Simi says. “If it had been a story about anyone except Angela, I think I would have thrown in the towel because she just so exemplified what it means to overcome any obstacle.”
The completed film has received standing ovations at festivals worldwide. In Hamburg, Germany, 1,700 viewers gave it a three-minute standing ovation, despite language barriers.
“That was extremely overwhelming for both Deb and me to receive that, watching people wipe tears away and be so moved,” Simi says.
While Simi expected the film would connect with specific groups – veterans, the LGBTQ community and adaptive athletes – she’s been surprised by its universal appeal.
“It’s just like everybody is resonating with it. I’ve not heard a single negative thing yet, which never happens,” she says.
At its core, Simi says Row of Life delivers two powerful messages: inspiration and authenticity. The film presents Madsen as “the absolute underdog” who “symbolizes so much in so many people in our society that don’t get a shot or are assumed not to have the capacity to be great. And Angela goes through all of that and just does it better anyway.”
Currently, Row of Life is touring film festivals nationally and internationally. Simi and her team, including executive producer and basketball legend Sue Bird, are working to secure a streaming platform deal that would make the documentary available to a wider audience by summer 2025.
For Simi, creating this film transformed her life. “She’s by far the most formative person in my life. For the rest of my life, I will point to Angela and this experience as the thing that changed me as a person,” she says.
Through her lens, Simi captured something few documentarians ever achieve – a story that began as one thing and evolved into something far more profound. It’s clear that Madsen’s journey – though it ended differently than planned – continues exactly as she lived: breaking boundaries and changing lives.
For screening information and updates on streaming availability, visit rowoflifefilm.com.