gary
17-08-2011, 11:39 PM
Senna (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424432/) is a 106 minute documentary that tells the story of the F1 career of three times
world champion, Ayrton Senna.
When Senna was killed in an accident at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 at the age of 34,
an estimated three million Brazilian citizens lined the streets of Sao Paulo to pay their
respects to a man they had come to regard as a national hero.
The film makers success is taking the countless hours of archival footage available to
them and condensing it into a compelling and superbly edited narrative. This includes
footage taken not only on the track, but also taken behind the scenes during driver's
briefings and from other sources such as TV interviews and from Senna family home movies.
Often raw and grainy, these images nevertheless provide a vignette of a charismatic, if
not often shy figure, that you cannot help but like. Close-up images where you see every
freckle and whisker help lure you into a sense of familiarity that you start to think of
him as "Ayrton" rather than "Senna". And for a short while, you even forget, or perhaps
subconsciously choose to forget, that inevitably the hero of the story, who has his
triumphs and tribulations, will ultimately die.
And of the triumphs there are many. Desperate to win before his home crowd, Ayrton is
leading the '91 Brazilian Grand Prix with only seven laps to go when the car becomes
stuck in 6th gear. Rather than pitting - it would take too long to change the gear box -
Ayrton continues the remaining twisting and turning laps miraculously only in 6th gear
and goes on to win. After crossing the line, in exhaustion, he passes out. Suffering from
muscle spasms in the shoulders, he is lifted from his car and driven back to the podium,
where you see him struggle to lift the wining cup above his head because his shoulders
are still seized up.
One of the more important themes of the narrative is the intense rivalry that exists
between Ayrton and world champion, Alain Prost and the film explores the politics
surrounding these two men, both of whom are absolutely determined to be number one.
The in-car shots of Ayrton thundering towards hairpin corners at speeds in excess of
320km/h still left this viewer breathless.
A must for all F1 fans or for those who simply enjoy a great true-life story, I saw Senna
at the Macquarie Center theater here in Sydney which has giant, very comfortable
seats. Senna is also currently showing in limited release elsewhere throughout Australia.
The winner of the Audience Award for best world documentary at the
2011 Sundance Film Festival, it is highly recommended. :thumbsup:
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1709218841/
Clip Monte Carlo 1984
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1836227865/
Clip
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1802673433/
world champion, Ayrton Senna.
When Senna was killed in an accident at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 at the age of 34,
an estimated three million Brazilian citizens lined the streets of Sao Paulo to pay their
respects to a man they had come to regard as a national hero.
The film makers success is taking the countless hours of archival footage available to
them and condensing it into a compelling and superbly edited narrative. This includes
footage taken not only on the track, but also taken behind the scenes during driver's
briefings and from other sources such as TV interviews and from Senna family home movies.
Often raw and grainy, these images nevertheless provide a vignette of a charismatic, if
not often shy figure, that you cannot help but like. Close-up images where you see every
freckle and whisker help lure you into a sense of familiarity that you start to think of
him as "Ayrton" rather than "Senna". And for a short while, you even forget, or perhaps
subconsciously choose to forget, that inevitably the hero of the story, who has his
triumphs and tribulations, will ultimately die.
And of the triumphs there are many. Desperate to win before his home crowd, Ayrton is
leading the '91 Brazilian Grand Prix with only seven laps to go when the car becomes
stuck in 6th gear. Rather than pitting - it would take too long to change the gear box -
Ayrton continues the remaining twisting and turning laps miraculously only in 6th gear
and goes on to win. After crossing the line, in exhaustion, he passes out. Suffering from
muscle spasms in the shoulders, he is lifted from his car and driven back to the podium,
where you see him struggle to lift the wining cup above his head because his shoulders
are still seized up.
One of the more important themes of the narrative is the intense rivalry that exists
between Ayrton and world champion, Alain Prost and the film explores the politics
surrounding these two men, both of whom are absolutely determined to be number one.
The in-car shots of Ayrton thundering towards hairpin corners at speeds in excess of
320km/h still left this viewer breathless.
A must for all F1 fans or for those who simply enjoy a great true-life story, I saw Senna
at the Macquarie Center theater here in Sydney which has giant, very comfortable
seats. Senna is also currently showing in limited release elsewhere throughout Australia.
The winner of the Audience Award for best world documentary at the
2011 Sundance Film Festival, it is highly recommended. :thumbsup:
Trailer
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1709218841/
Clip Monte Carlo 1984
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1836227865/
Clip
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi1802673433/