Aryton Senna, considered to be one of the greatest and most beloved racers in history, was a man that, despite everything, was driven to win in life. At least, that is how he is portrayed in Asif Kapadia’s new documentary, Senna.
As a young, confident and good-looking Formula 1 racer, Senna eventually became a symbol of pride for Brazil and for other racers to come after him when he won the world championship three years in a row. As he quickly built a legacy for himself, he was still a man that held onto his morals, faith and pride in the sport of motor racing.
Kapadia to explore his professional life rather than his personal one. Although they do develop what type of person he was and what made him strive to succeed, it all is done to explore his career.
For this, it could have been one of the best TV sports documentaries ever made. It’s a well-made account at exploring a sport icon that many American audiences never knew.
Theatrically, though, it doesn’t have enough meat on its bones to make it very memorable. Besides showing home footage, it doesn’t give much to those who already know the facts, so it is really targeted at those who don’t know who he is.
The film explores all that made Senna’s racing career, from his first races in Europe to his relationship with friend-turned-rival Alain Prost and then to his eventual rise to fame and his “brilliance” at racing. More than anything else, it does a good job at showing who he was as a racer.
Only archive footage and audio are featured in the film, which works to the film’s greatest benefit, as it is truly pulls in the audience and sets viewers into the scene. Footage captured on the track looks impressive on the big screen and it’s incredible that this footage, along with others found behind the scenes at press junctions, actually exist.
Senna has a quick pace, never wasting a moment as each scene offers something to add to the characters or story. Taking away the fact that the documentary only uses archived footage and audio, however, it has a very standard telling account. The film also doesn’t draw too deeply on Senna’s flaws beyond his competitiveness and occasional cockiness.
As a whole, it is a very well made film and will especially entertain those who would like to learn about the legend and what he came to be. Rather than a fully satisfying and deep account at his life, it provides a good jumping point for those to explore more after watching it.
