[Langley968]

Just went last night with my wife to watch SENNA, a documentary film about Brazilian F1 driver Ayrton Senna.



Darlene and I were living in Brazil in 1994 when the crash at Imola took his life. It was a national tradgedy at a time when Brazilians were looking for something to be positive about, considering the social and political challenges Brazil was facing at the time. The film captured those feelings very well and the emotions came flowing back last night as we watched this VERY well made documentary.

I highly recommend it, even for those who do not follow F1 or know much (or anything) about Ayrton Senna.



I will probably go to watch it again with my son, who was 7 at the time, and still remembers the event. It was his interest in Ayrton Senna that caused him to dream about and eventualy buy an Acura (Honda) NSX. Ironically, that very last scene in the movie shows Senna driving away in a... Porsche 911! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.png" class="smilie" alt="" />



If anyone else here has seen the film I would be interested in hearing your opinion about it...





   

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[Chris Vais]

The one review of the film that I read gave it very high marks which comports with your personal review. I'm looking forward to seeing it. At last a new film for Petrol Heads.

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[Cloud9...68]

Yes, I've heard great things about this movie as well.  Last I heard, it was released in a very limited set of theaters, but none in Austin, unfortunately, so I'll keep my ear to the ground as to when it may be out in a broader release.  I'm glad you enjoyed it.  Senna was a once-in-a-generation driver, but unfortunately, one of the main things that made him great, his apparent low sense of self-preservation, is what ended up costing him his life.  I often think of how incredible it might have been to have seen him and Schumacher duke it out.

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[blau]

I have never followed F1 at all and didn't know a whole lot about Senna before the movie. It's a pretty amazing story and he really had an innate talent. Pretty crazy all of the walls that they put up to make it more competitive for the other racers against him. Would definitely recommend seeing the movie.



Funny note - a friend of mine from Motor Trend is quoted on the official US movie poster:

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[IndischRot968]

Went to see it last Sunday to E Street cinema in DC. What surprised me was that the hall was nearly full and probably 60% of the spectators were young guys and gals who definitely couldn't have seen Senna in action when he was racing. The earlier afternoon show was sold out. That could be justified by a fact that only a limited number of US theatres show this movie. Anyway, in my personal opinion the movie is pretty good for a documentary though I didn't find it as fabulous as described by many who'd seen it before. I'm an avid F1 fan following the sport (is that can be called sport)since 1984, so I remember Senna's performance and Senna-Prost rivalry very well. The movie doesn't show too many racing scenes, so those expecting to see action packed film will be dissapointed. On the other hand the movie tries to provide some insight into Senna's private world, his beliefs and life outside F1. It was interesting to find out that Terry Fullerton (practically unknown Englishman who raced karts in Europe in the 70s and was European or World karting champ around '75) was named by Ayrton as the best driver he ever competed with and not Prost, Piquet, Mansell or the likes. According to Ayrton "it was pure driving, it was real racing". Even though I wouldn't call a film brilliant, it still is a very good one and a must see for any petrolhead or F1 fan.

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[tim944s]

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[tim944s]

I am sorry to say I missed this when it was in town. When I was attending the Allen Berg race school, he spoke of his experience with Senna and was also promoting the showing. He had indicated that he was presenting before the show. Wish I had a chance to see it.

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[Cloud9...68]

Saw the movie today; very well done. One of my favorite parts was during the closing credits, which showed a scene of him bringing his car to a screeching halt, jumping out of it, and dodging cars whizzing by at high speed, to get to a driver who had recently crashed. His drive to win was relentless, but he was also a very humble and empathetic human being. I followed Formula One pretty closely while Senna was driving (between this and being a die-hard 49er fan, the 80's were kind of a golden age of spectator sports following for me), but I had forgotten several of the things that had happened to him, particularly his struggles after the '91 season. Who knows what would have happened had he lived. Would he have found a ride that would have been competitive with Schumacher's Ferrari? Would he have joined Ferrari as Schumacher's teamate, as he had done with McLaren and Prost? Would he have languished with noncompetitive treams, and retired in frustration? We'll obviously never know.

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[tom968]

Saw it this afternoon, and liked it. I saw

it with a Brazilian friend who is not a big

racing fan, and she liked it as well.



I followed F1 and Senna's career, but there's things

you forget. Plus, there's many clips, interviews,

and home movies I had never seen.



My favorites were an interview with Jackie Stewart,

and Senna walking out of a drivers meeting.



The on board camera shots of Monaco are great.



By the way, Senna's nephew Bruno Senna qualified 7th

this weekend in Belgium. The resemblance is uncanny.

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[ds968]

Saw the movie today. Very well produced, IMO. Intriguing, enjoyable, emotive on many levels and fronts, all wrapped up into one terrific documentary of passion for speed and winning, in spite of the politics which marr the sport.

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