“The Boys in the Boat,” released Dec. 25, tells the true story of the men on the University of Washington’s rowing team during the Great Depression.

The film centers around Joe Rantz, one of the eight team members. Desperate for funds to pay his college tuition, Rantz tries out for the rowing team and is accepted for the junior boat, which ironically surpasses the varsity rowing team. Soon enough, Rantz and his teammates find themselves competing in major races in the United States and eventually in the 1936 Olympics.

With majestic music and beautiful cinematography, “The Boys in the Boat” immerses the viewer in 1930s Seattle and invests them in the characters. Unlike some movies in which the characters are flawless or unrelatable, the movie artfully shows each major character’s backstory, building a sense of compassion and camaraderie in the viewer. Not only does the film reveal the individual characters’ lives, it shows the hard work of the team to prepare for races.

In one riveting race scene, Rantz’s boat is several lengths behind the others, and it doesn’t appear it will be able to catch up. The men are tired and struggling, but the boat’s coxswain, Bobby Moch, encourages them to row for everyone who believes in them.

While the film shows only a limited view of Great Depression America, the subtle details are impactful: Rantz’s worn boots with holes, winding soup kitchen lines, and a character’s life in an abandoned truck. The film conveys the realities of living in Great Depression-era America while developing a dream-like environment in which there are only the men and their boat.

“The Boys in the Boat” is first and foremost about brotherhood, perseverance, and teamwork. Some might consider the film to be shallow — there are no tragic death scenes or mind-blowing twists — but it’s deep and wholesome. It tells the story of a few characters’ lives, backstories, hopes, and dreams. 

It’s not simply about the rowing team — it’s about the team members who rowed as one. It’s also about the individuals who encouraged them to keep at it, even if the circumstances did not seem hopeful. The rowers find joy in each other, no matter how troubled their home lives are. In watching “The Boys in the Boat,” the viewer feels like they are also on the team and part of their brotherhood.