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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Legend. Saint. Brazilian race car driver Ayrton Senna was a man who transcended his sport and became a lasting icon to millions around the globe. For Americans unfamiliar with Formula One racing, he was the Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzsky, Babe Ruth, and Jim Brown of his sport. Senna captures his greatness with superb documentary filmmaking in part by focusing on the man rather than a lot of talking heads taking up camera time and getting in the way.

A man of unflinching faith in God, Senna came from a wealthy family in São Paulo, Brazil. An early infatuation with go-kart racing led him to Europe where, as a young man in the early 1980s, he transitioned into Formula One. He quickly became a rising star in the international sport, yet he had to struggle against a system overrun by politics and favoritism.

Senna’s struggle with those who controlled the sport is amplified with his on-the-track nemesis, three-time French World Champion Alain Prost. Their battles are mesmerizing and are the stuff of epic tales to be told to future generations of racing fans. Within their tug-of-war, we see Senna transform from a humble man who loves the purity of racing to the extreme competitor willing to do whatever it takes to win, even if it means being occasionally ruthless. We also get to see Senna as a family man, devoutly Catholic, deeply patriotic, and determined to help children.

Senna is put together with montages of interviews, family videos, and a heart-pounding array of racing footage including some captured from his vantage point while driving. It’s mesmerizing to be sure, but also horrific when tragic accidents are captured, including his.

From Prost to Senna’s sister to sports commentators and others who knew Senna best we get insightful details about who he was a racer and as a man. What makes these reflections even better is that the camera is always on Senna. It never shifts, to say, a morose-looking Prost sitting in a garage somewhere in modern day France staring into the camera with perhaps a tear in his eye at some point. Again, the documentary stays on track and emphasizes only its tragic hero.

Senna once said, “Just because I believe in God, just because I have faith in God, it doesn’t mean that I’m immune. It doesn’t mean that I’m immortal.” Seventeen years after his death, this documentary helps him achieve that immortality here on Earth, and filmgoers certainly won’t be immune to loving this wonderful documentary.

On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing Senna receives an A.

Senna is rated PG-13 and has a running time of 106 minutes.

Now showing through September 22 @
 

Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square
4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.