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Written by Raffi Asdourian, January 26, 2011 at 1:56 am 

The world is filled with amazing stories that most people have never heard of before. Such is the case with Senna, a riveting documentary directed by Asif Kapadia, that documents the incredible story of Formula One racer Ayrton Senna, a Brazilian hero who won the F1 World Grand Prix three times before dying at the young age of 34. Utilizing a treasure trove of archival footage and having voices of people that knew Senna narrate the vintage images creates a rich atmosphere that transports you into the cockpit of this genius racer.

The story begins in Brazil, where a young and ambitious Senna becomes a champion in go-cart racing, a sport he calls “pure racing.” This awards him an opportunity to travel to Europe and begin competing in the extremely competitive Formula One championships. Passionate and innately gifted in how he could control the car as an extension of his body while racing at breakneck speeds, Senna is an instantly likable persona who strives for perfection in his craft. His arrival during his first race marks the debut of a legend and displaces reigning French champion Alain Prost.

This rivalry becomes the center focus of the film. While Senna prides himself on his ability to be the best racer, Prost plays the politics of those in charge of the F1 regulations. The drama unfolds almost like you would see in a soap opera, as the two racers constantly try to outdo one another for that first position. As Senna puts it, it doesn’t matter if you come in second, third or fourth, only first place counts in competitive sports. Prost accuses Senna of being overly religious and thus reckless in his driving. As tension rises between the racers, so does their safety as their charge to be first results in several close call crashes.

This is the real heart of the matter for what the film is trying to say about the inherent danger these racers face everyday, ultimately leading to the tragic death of Senna. Over the years as the young racer dominates the circuits, the technologies inside the cars advance to the point where they take over the difficulties of controlling the turns. Seeing this as a detriment to the sport, Senna pledges race without these safety nets which is a foreboding omen to the tragedy around the bend. Inspirational to his country of Brazil and remarkable in his finesse of handling the complex subtleties of controlling the cars, Senna becomes a martyr for the sport that he held so close to his heart. Senna is a straightforward-yet-breathtaking ride whose tragedy ensures the safety of future racers and whose story will continue to inspire generations, especially those who have never heard of him in the first place.

Have you any interest in Formula racing?