I have always loved race cars since I was a child. That being said, I was instantly drawn to seeing Senna at SXSW. I can say this: I truly sat through one of the best racing documentaries I have ever seen.
Spanning the decade of his arrival in Formula One in the mid 80's, the film follows Senna's struggles both on the track against his nemesis, French World Champion Alain Prost, and off, against the politics which infest the sport. Sublime, spiritual yet, on occasion, ruthless - Senna conquers and transcends Formula One to become a global superstar. Privately, he is humble, almost shy, and fiercely patriotic, donating millions to his native Brasil and contemplating a life beyond motor-racing. Yet he is struck down in his prime on the blackest weekend in the history of the sport, watched live on television by 300 million people. Years on he is revered in Formula One as the greatest motor racing driver of all time.
Director Asif Kapadia really has something special here. He captures Senna in a way that will have you emotionally invested in his story throughout the film. The story itself is captivating and interesting to watch. Even people who don't know anything about racing or cars will get something out of this movie.
I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who is a fan of racing. It is inspiring and fun to watch. A documentary is good when is true to reality, but a documentary is awesome when it's great to watch. And Senna is a perfect tribute to a hero.
