Senna – the documentary film charting the racing career of three-times Formula One World Champion Ayrton Senna – is coming to UK cinemas on 3 June 2011. CAR’s F1 correspondent Tom Clarkson discusses the origins of a Senna film, and offers his review of Senna, which was first released to acclaim at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in the US. As always with film reviews, those wishing to avoid ‘spoilers’ about the content of Senna before seeing the film should refrain from reading Tom Clarkson’s Senna review.
Senna – origins of the film, and Bernie’s blessing
January 2004. Bernie Ecclestone is perched on the edge of his desk in Prince’s Gate, discussing ways in which we can cover the 10-year anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s death in Formula 1 Magazine. He’s more animated than I’ve ever seen him.
This is a story that Bernie cares about passionately. He’s full of ideas and story angles and as I leave his office he hands me a list of Brazilian telephone numbers. They belong to people close to Senna, many of whom have never previously told their story.
Unfortunately, Bernie closed the magazine before this story saw the light of day. But such was Bernie’s enthusiasm for Senna that it came as no surprise when, in 2006, he give his blessing to a documentary about the three-time world champion. And, typical of Bernie, once he’d given Working Title the green light, he wanted it done properly; he gave them unprecedented access to his TV archive at Biggin Hill (for a small fee, natch).
The reasons behind this film about Senna, which goes on general release in the UK on 3 June 2011, are almost as intriguing as the movie itself. Ayrton’s life – and particularly his death – sealed F1’s global popularity and Bernie’s cooperation with the filmmakers is, I believe, public recognition of Senna’s contribution. It’s a statement that Bernie’s wanted to make, through whatever medium, for several years.
Senna – the Tom Clarkson review
The result is a film that gives a fascinating insight into the life and times of Senna, and there is lots of previously unseen footage. It’s been pieced together in such a way that Senna tells his story in his own words, yet it follows the typical three-act structure of any mainstream movie. There’s Ayrton’s rise through the F1 ranks; there’s his success and then there are the challenges that he faces when he’s at the top.
Unusually for a documentary, the film isn’t interrupted by talking heads. There are lots of interviews with the key figures in Senna’s career, such as McLaren boss Ron Dennis and F1 doctor Prof Sid Watkins, but they are run over footage of Ayrton and that helps to give the film momentum.
Bernie is conspicuous by his absence from the movie, but there’s evidence of his work behind the scenes because the film gives insight into how F1 changed during Senna’s 10-year career. Footage from Monaco ’84, the race that Ayrton almost won in the Toleman, is unimaginative and looks dated; by Imola ’94 the picture quality has improved and the number of cameras at the racetrack has increased dramatically.
We get access to drivers’ briefings chaired by that buffoon Jean-Marie Balestre; there are press conferences that haven’t previously been broadcast and there are engineering briefings in which we are able to appreciate Senna’s genius. His attention to detail baffled most rivals.
The film isn’t perfect. You’re thrown into Monaco ’84 at the start without a word of explanation and the movie takes a fairly one dimensional look at Ayrton’s career and character. He’s made out to be the victim of a Balestre-Alain Prost conspiracy and, to a degree, that was the case; but anyone who followed Ayrton’s career closely will know that he was no angel.
However, Working Title couldn’t be expected to give a rounded account of Senna in a 100-minute film. They’ve taken the angle of ‘Ayrton Versus The Establishment’ and run with it. The result is a gripping and emotive film that all F1 fans will enjoy and Senna fans will love. Ron Dennis cried for 10 minutes when he saw it for the first time and so will many of you.
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