At its core, Row 19 is a psychological exploration of PTSD. The protagonist, Katerina, is a doctor who survived a catastrophic plane crash as a child. Decades later, she boards another flight with her young daughter, only to find herself trapped in a "claustrophobic cockpit of consternation" where her past literally begins to hunt her.
: By placing Katerina's daughter on the flight at the same age Katerina was during her original crash, the movie visualizes how parents often fear their children will inherit or relive their worst nightmares. Atmosphere and Imagery Row 19(2021)
Director Alexander Babaev leans into surreal, phobic imagery to keep the audience off-balance: Row 19 (2021) - Flick Attack At its core, Row 19 is a psychological exploration of PTSD