‘Senna’ is an adrenaline-pumping documentary about the famous Formula One racer

Asif Kapadia’s new documentary about Ayrton Senna, the legendary Formula One racer who won the World Championship three times, is a stellar example of how to tell an invigorating story without getting in the way of the subject. The entire 106-minute film uses archival footage of the racer and his competitors. All of the new interviews simply play as voiceovers over the images. No talking heads. No statistics. No modern-day “where are they now?” talks. Senna is an historic document, a story that unfolds through media coverage and personal home videos. As a cinematic testament to the legacy of the world-famous racer, it’s an indisputable winner.

Senna is a dynamic personality for the silver screen. The young, good-looking Brazilian caught the imagination of the racing world and instantly shot to global fame. But he matched his image with his performance. This was a man who delivered the results time and time again, winning race after race after race.

Never a person to get swept up in the politics and money of Formula One, Senna tried to keep his thoughts and training on the courses where he would compete. Still, as top dog in the industry, he got sucked into the hurricane of the press reports and potential rivalries.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, his friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend was Alain Prost, the French racer who earned one more World Championship than Senna. The two were often top contenders in the global Grand Prix contests in Monaco, Japan, Mexico and other locales. It was either Senna taking first or Prost, and the viewers often tuned in to see who would earn the slight edge. Compounding their rivalry was the fact that for a couple of years they shared the same sponsors.

As Senna escalated in the sport, his high-profile status was often called into question. Some considered him to be aggressive and even dangerous out on the course, an opinion backed by Senna’s seemingly endless accidents. The driver never paid credence to the critiques. He put on his helmet, waved to the crowd and got down to business. There’s no arguing that for his few short years as the best of the best in Formula One, the man was “the fastest person in the world.”

Off the racetrack, we get a slightly different portrait. He seemed calm and collected in front of the throngs of media looking for photographs or a sound byte. He was a dedicated son, devout Catholic and seemed to have pretty girlfriends in several capital cities. Kapadia paints a fairly sentimental picture of the racer, and after watching all of this footage, it’s no wonder. The man was cheerful, likable and mild-mannered — probably a great guy and fierce competitor.

Inevitably, the documentary examines the final chapter of Senna’s life, a tragic ending to such an inspiring story. Still, after watching all of the facts stack up about the dangerousness of the sport, the ending is somewhat expected. Senna played with fire, and he ultimately got burned. His ending doesn’t take away from the astounding facts of his life — whether consistent winning on the global stage or his dedication to charity in his native Brazil. His story seems like an example of a bird flying too close to the sun.

Kapadia’s documentary is a fitting tribute to the man behind the legend. It follows the racer through all of the chapter headings in his life, always bringing us along for the ride. At many times, it’s difficult to catch one’s breath, because Senna moved like a cheetah. From Japan to Monaco to Sao Paulo and back again, he traveled the world (probably faster than in 80 days, I’m sure).

Senna would have been remembered and memorialized without Kapadia’s archival documentary, and now the film proves to be a nice exclamation point on a worthy and unmatched career.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Senna

• 2011

• Directed by Asif Kapadia

• Running time: 106 minutes

• Rated PG-13 for some strong language and disturbing images

• Rating: