SENNA: 5 STARS
Senna is a documentary starring it’s subject, Ayerton Senna, the legendary Formula One race car driver. Senna spent a decade chasing his dream and winning. Senna is made from actual footage of television news reels and taped races. The viewer is treated to scenes filmed from a camera within Senna’s speeding race cars.
Director Asif Kapadia and writer Manish Pandley created this compelling depiction of a man’s life. same year that felt satisfying, riveting, and better than many Hollywood films. The first captivating doc of the year is Magic Trip — Ken Kesey’s 1964 bus trip to the World’s Fair with the Merry Pranksters.
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This true story of the meteoric life of Ayerton Senna is a fascinating view into his great success and his troubled mind. Senna’s tragically early death came at age 34. One can’t help but think of director Asif Kapadia’s film about the quick rise and heartbreaking death of 27-year-old singer and addict, Amy Winehouse. Senna died from his addiction too, but his was not to drugs and alcohol— it was the thrill of competition and danger in every F1 race.
Senna’s motivation did not seem to mimic the self-destruction and low self-esteem seen in most substance abusers. His was a spiritual journey and a competitive obsessive quest to be the best. As much as Jimi Hendrix was driven obsessively to play guitar, Senna was driven to drive.
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The film is the winner of the Audience Award World Cinema Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival and the Audience Award for Best International Feature at 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival.
“Sometimes a documentary will unexpectedly grab you by the throat, not giving you a second to breathe. Such is the power of this man, and this film.” — Los Angeles Times
Senna lived the romantic life of high highs and low lows that we Americans idolize. Senna was living his fantasy — a journey so far from the realm of a typical everyday life. Watching this film I vicariously lived through his adventures.
The movie is a thrill ride and joyful with each win. It’s easy to celebrate with Senna, as he dump soversized bottles of champagne onto his head. As the sparkly fizz rolls down his hair and drenches his clothes, happy tears of excitement roll down his beautiful face.
With every win, I teared up. With every loss, every soul-crushing disappointment, I ached right alone with him. His charisma lights up the screen and the story grabs viewers right in the opening scene. To View Senna Trailer click here.
See also: Asif Kapadia film ‘Amy’ about Amy Winehouse
