‘The Row’ follows Tez Steinberg as he responds to personal grief by completing two long-distance solo rowing expeditions across the Pacific. The film is set up around his voyages, using their physical scale and isolation to frame his emotional state.
The outlets describe the documentary as impressive in its depiction of the expeditions, particularly in how the solo nature of the undertaking is conveyed. However, they differ in how they assess the film’s broader approach. One review characterizes Bryan Fogel’s profile as feeling insufficiently examined, suggesting the storytelling may not fully explore Steinberg’s motivations or inner life beyond the fact of the voyages. Another highlights the film’s capacity to draw viewers into the journey while raising questions through its portrayal of loss and coping.
Overall, both reviews emphasize the same central subject—Steinberg’s grief-driven rowing—and align on the documentary’s gripping, question-raising presentation. They diverge mainly on how thoroughly the film contextualizes Steinberg’s story and how developed viewers find the portrait.
