Senna the movie is a spectacular ride outlining the life and achievements of Ayrton Senna the Brazilian superstar of Formula One racing. One of the greatest motor racing drivers of all time, Senna was gifted with an extraordinary talent.
He possessed a self-belief that was often mistaken for arrogance and was famous for taking huge risks. With good looks and oozing charisma, this was a man who had it all.
In his ten years in F1 he amazed the world, driving in ways that had never been seen before. He set countless records and won three World Championships. This larger than life character transcended the sport, he was looked upon as a saint in Brazil. That was until the horrific crash in 1994 that tragically took his life at the peak of his career.
Director Asif Kapadia creates a stunningly exciting journey, that completely raises the bar for all documentary-style films. Even though he had little interest in motorsports or Senna as a person, this masterpiece extracts the thorough detail from the writer with great effect.
The movie was well-received by the critics going on to win numerous awards. It won Best Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, Adelaide Film Festival, Melbourne Film Festival and the BAFTA's.
Weaved into the movie are the deeply personal views from his colleagues, friends and bitter rivals. Alain Prost was Senna's teammate at McClaren, creating one of the fiercest rivalries in the history of the sport.
Prost is a legend in his own right and some of the quotes coming from him are powerfully poignant. Prost said “Ayrton has a small problem, he thinks that he can't kill himself and I think that is very dangerous”.
Other notable contributors are Nigel Mansell, Ron Dennis, Nelson Piquet, Gerhard Berger and Viviane Senna. But the crushing recounts of the tragic events at the San Marino from team-mate Daman Hill and team boss Frank Williams pack a powerful punch.
It is fair to say, that even if you are not a fan of motorsports this is still a must watch film. Similar to A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story it is a powerful and inspiring story about a great man, that is masterfully told.
Ayrton Senna's energy bursts through the screen and grabs you in a beautiful way. Right up until the fittingly emotional finale that is guaranteed to pull a few tears. Simply a great film about a great man and possibly the best sports documentary ever made.
