Aryton Senna one of the greatest racing drivers of all time has been given the documentary biopic treatment and what a fantastic surprise it is. I for one am not a huge F1 fan. I watched a bit when I was younger but that was mainly under the influence of my older brother. I knew who Aryton was probably because it was his name that featured on the racing games of that time on the Sega master system if I remember right. I do remember watching the very race in which he died. I would have been ten or eleven. It felt very unreal. The crash doesn’t seem to bad or at least not as bad as some crashes I had seen the drivers get up and walk out of. These things happen and Senna always looked to god. Anyway just wanted to establish that I am not a diehard Formula 1 fan in fact I have not watched a race for about 15 years.
The documentary is fantastically made. It has a perfect blend of on track and off track footage showcasing his rise to fame into his slightly more troubled years. The editing in particular is second to none and the story never halts. The movie is seamless and demands your attention and empathy immediately. The documentary focuses heavily on Sennas influence by god and his turbulent relationship with teammate Alain Prost. The movie shows all aspects of Sennas persona throughout his most formidable years from 1984 to 1994. It shows him as cheeky new comer, happy and care free, troubled, emotional, influential, outspoken, misquoted and lost. The movie really does have it all it personifies Senna immaculately.
When I heard the movie was a bit over two hours I was slightly put off but I am glad it didn’t turn me off completely as the movie never drags at any point (I will stay away from any racing puns). I went to see the movie in a surprisingly packed out cinema with my girlfriend who hates racing driving but when I turned round to her as the end credits rolled up she had tears streaming down her face and later said that she had been holding them in sine about 20-30 minutes into the movie because she knew how it ended.
The movie perfectly captures the essence of showbiz, emotion, desire, self-fulfilment and heartbreak. To have his life cut short at only 34 was a tragedy as he was an immense role model not just for Brazil but for young men and sportsmen alike throughout the world. This movie is not for fans of formula one racing but for fans of life itself. A msut see!
Overall 9/10
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