Synopsis:
Senna is the story of motor racing great Ayrton Senna. Documenting his emergence and breakthrough into F1 through to his untimely death, Senna follows his rivalry with Alain Prost and his disillusionment of F1 politics.
Ayrton Senna was clearly a great driver, and more than that he was clearly a great man. But having said that, Senna is a documentary about an F1 driver and if you don’t like F1 or documentaries then this isn’t going to be for you despite the fact the story is engaging and inspirational. The story of Ayrton Senna, his introduction to F1 and his rivalry with Alain Prost is intriguing and for the first half of the film Alain Prost does not exactly come out smelling of roses. The politics of F1 is highlighted by the rivalry, and particularly Prost’s relationship (and Senna’s lack there of) with FIA President Jean-Marie Balestre. The film is obviously sympathetic to Ayrton, but it does seem he was on the wrong end of a number of decisions that profited Prost and there is certainly a smile on many a face when Ayrton Senna gets his revenge. Far from being a dangerous driver, the behind the scenes glimpses the audience is given into the drivers briefings, shows Ayrton Senna was actually somewhat of a safety champion and if there is one good thing to come out of the fateful San Marino Grand Prix it is that there have been no fatalities in F1 since.
It is testament to Senna’s humility that seemingly the whole of Brazil supported him and regarded him as a role model. In a country obsessed with football, the fact so much of the population clearly adored Senna and cheered in the streets for him is quite a feat; I don’t remember similar scenes in Britain when Lewis Hamilton won the F1 drivers championship.
