Rowing Through is very loosely based on a book called "The Amateurs" by David Halberstam which documents the rowing careers of four American single scullers and their Olympic quest The film plot surrounds Tiff Wood's training in the run up to the 1980 Olympics (where he would have been a favourite to win gold) and his
reaction at being told the US squad would not be going. The main part of the film focuses on his attempts to make it to the 1984 Olympics and the impact on his training and performace from being that little bit older . After his attempts to get the single slot are ruined by an inattentive stake boat boy, Tiff turns to the crew boats and tries for the double. The uplifting moral of the movie (intoned over a soaring Chariots Of Fire-style soundtrack): "None of these guys went to the Olympics. But that trial has become the stuff of legend!" To summarize, it's beautifully shot but the rowing is terrible - hardly surprising as the actors were new to the sport and the rowing consultant had to try to teach twelve actors how to row like Olympians in thirteen days of paid rehearsal. On the plus side they did have some great extras - The real Tiff wood, Derek Porter, Harry Parker and Xeno Muller amongst them... (Don't try this at home kids)
March 9, 2005
