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Senna the man, Senna the racer, 'Senna' the film.
For the first time in my life, I have emerged unsettled from a cinema. It is often said that the greatest drama is evoked from real life and, on today�s evidence, I must agree that this is truly the case. Any film based in fiction is by nature divorced from reality, and any film recreating true events suffers equally from this surreal nature � the viewer quite capable of divorcing themselves from the action and plight of the characters.
The draw of reality, however, is much more immediate, much rawer. The difference is like that between �driving� on a computer game and taking to the track in reality � everything is amplified tenfold: joy, grief, ecstasy, sorrow. In the case of films such as the recently released �TT3D: Closer to the Edge�, reality helps the audience to spike with adrenaline and shiver with anticipation � a pleasurable, engaging experience � yet today�s film �Senna� draws on the soul like no other.
Through a combination of interviews and race commentary overlaid onto period footage, �Senna� paints a most vivid depiction of the Formula One career of one of the sport�s most revered icons. For many the race footage will be nothing new but for the likes of me, too young to have experienced Aryton Senna�s transcendent skill, the standard of driving is almost beyond comprehension.
Witness Senna hurling his McLaren around the narrow streets of Monaco with a lucidity and involvement rarely seen in any driver, his ability to drive a car above and beyond clearly outlined by footage of races for Lotus and McLaren.
To see Senna drive quickly is to watch a man dance with a car � the involvement so physical, yet so cerebral � the understanding absolute. The strength of connection between film and audience is strengthened by every twitch of the tail, every four-wheel drift, every committed overtake � yet this is in no way a film for the petrolhead alone.
The greatest achievement of this film is that whilst it could so easily have been dominated and defined by lap-times and races, the strongest assets of the film are based in the very humanity of its major players. My amazement in Senna as a driver is strong � for the film has not only introduced me to footage of the driver for the first time but also led me to so strongly question why I have never searched out such clips before. However, my amazement in Senna as a human being is even greater.
One cannot fail to be drawn by the sheer vivacity of Senna�s character, the great intent and focus so strongly emphasised in the film by good decisions and bad. Even in the poor choices, Senna is shown in a good and very human light � his evident guilt in driving Prost off the road at the 1990 Japanese grand prix wracked throughout his person, even if it would never be expressed too publicly in words and actions.
This humility is perhaps the most astounding facet of Senna�s personality; an open and loving soul demonstrated throughout the film, strongly backed up by evidence of his great charitable work. In the narration, Viviane Senna � Ayrton�s sister � is quick to explain Senna�s happy and continuing obligation to all Brazilians who asked for his aid.
The Instituto Ayrton Senna � which has so far provided the education of over twelve million underprivileged Brazilian children � further evidences the ongoing generosity of Senna as a man, providing a stirring and most fitting legacy.
One�s amazement in Senna is further reinforced by his strong and unquestioning religious faith, evidenced time and again in post-race interviews, whilst his great importance to the Brazilian people is strongly underlined by the legions of adoring fans surrounding almost his every move � and the genuine tears they shed as he is carried to the grave.
Such emotion underlines every action and word over the two hours � the viewer ever more connected to the undeniably astounding legacy of Senna as a complete man. This multi-dimensional view of Senna allows the film to rise above a tale of racing to become one of unrivalled humanity, with all the successes and failures that inevitably entails.
As a result, the film is intensely moving to any viewer; with the joy, commitment, concern, anger and strength Ayrton Senna at one time or other conveyed all spilling off the screen.
I defy any viewer not to be astounded by Senna�s first Brazilian grand prix victory � having driven the car for many laps with nothing more than sixth gear � and his subsequent collapse from complete physical exertion.
That �dream big, achieve bigger� mantra underpins the film like no other, and ultimately seems to have driven almost every event up to that tragic day in 1994.
Josh Woodcock.
The draw of reality, however, is much more immediate, much rawer. The difference is like that between �driving� on a computer game and taking to the track in reality � everything is amplified tenfold: joy, grief, ecstasy, sorrow. In the case of films such as the recently released �TT3D: Closer to the Edge�, reality helps the audience to spike with adrenaline and shiver with anticipation � a pleasurable, engaging experience � yet today�s film �Senna� draws on the soul like no other.
Through a combination of interviews and race commentary overlaid onto period footage, �Senna� paints a most vivid depiction of the Formula One career of one of the sport�s most revered icons. For many the race footage will be nothing new but for the likes of me, too young to have experienced Aryton Senna�s transcendent skill, the standard of driving is almost beyond comprehension.
Witness Senna hurling his McLaren around the narrow streets of Monaco with a lucidity and involvement rarely seen in any driver, his ability to drive a car above and beyond clearly outlined by footage of races for Lotus and McLaren.
To see Senna drive quickly is to watch a man dance with a car � the involvement so physical, yet so cerebral � the understanding absolute. The strength of connection between film and audience is strengthened by every twitch of the tail, every four-wheel drift, every committed overtake � yet this is in no way a film for the petrolhead alone.
The greatest achievement of this film is that whilst it could so easily have been dominated and defined by lap-times and races, the strongest assets of the film are based in the very humanity of its major players. My amazement in Senna as a driver is strong � for the film has not only introduced me to footage of the driver for the first time but also led me to so strongly question why I have never searched out such clips before. However, my amazement in Senna as a human being is even greater.
One cannot fail to be drawn by the sheer vivacity of Senna�s character, the great intent and focus so strongly emphasised in the film by good decisions and bad. Even in the poor choices, Senna is shown in a good and very human light � his evident guilt in driving Prost off the road at the 1990 Japanese grand prix wracked throughout his person, even if it would never be expressed too publicly in words and actions.
This humility is perhaps the most astounding facet of Senna�s personality; an open and loving soul demonstrated throughout the film, strongly backed up by evidence of his great charitable work. In the narration, Viviane Senna � Ayrton�s sister � is quick to explain Senna�s happy and continuing obligation to all Brazilians who asked for his aid.
The Instituto Ayrton Senna � which has so far provided the education of over twelve million underprivileged Brazilian children � further evidences the ongoing generosity of Senna as a man, providing a stirring and most fitting legacy.
One�s amazement in Senna is further reinforced by his strong and unquestioning religious faith, evidenced time and again in post-race interviews, whilst his great importance to the Brazilian people is strongly underlined by the legions of adoring fans surrounding almost his every move � and the genuine tears they shed as he is carried to the grave.
Such emotion underlines every action and word over the two hours � the viewer ever more connected to the undeniably astounding legacy of Senna as a complete man. This multi-dimensional view of Senna allows the film to rise above a tale of racing to become one of unrivalled humanity, with all the successes and failures that inevitably entails.
As a result, the film is intensely moving to any viewer; with the joy, commitment, concern, anger and strength Ayrton Senna at one time or other conveyed all spilling off the screen.
I defy any viewer not to be astounded by Senna�s first Brazilian grand prix victory � having driven the car for many laps with nothing more than sixth gear � and his subsequent collapse from complete physical exertion.
That �dream big, achieve bigger� mantra underpins the film like no other, and ultimately seems to have driven almost every event up to that tragic day in 1994.
Josh Woodcock.
2024
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