Senna (2010)

Senna (2010) is a powerful, immersive documentary that traces the meteoric rise, intense rivalries, and tragic death of Brazilian Formula One legend Ayrton Senna. Using only archival race footage, interviews and contemporary news clips, the film follows Senna from his arrival in F1 in the mid‑1980s through his battles on track — most famously with Alain Prost — and his fights off track against the politics of the sport. Viewers witness not just his extraordinary skill behind the wheel, but his spiritual intensity, quiet humility, deep patriotism and private generosity toward Brazil. Watching Senna is a visceral experience: heart‑pounding race sequences put you in the cockpit as lap times, strategic gambits and split‑second decisions determine destiny; behind‑the‑scenes material exposes the pressure, rivalries and political maneuvering that shaped his career. Intimate archival interviews and family moments reveal the man beneath the helmet — thoughtful, driven and increasingly concerned with his legacy beyond racing. The film builds to the black weekend at Imola in 1994 with heartbreaking clarity, leaving a lasting emotional impact. As a cinematic portrait, Senna feels both exhilarating and mournful. The documentary’s archival approach keeps you rooted in the era, making it essential viewing for motorsport fans while also serving as a compelling human story for general audiences — a film about greatness, conflict, faith and the cost of living at the limits.

Actors: Ayrton Senna, Reginaldo Leme, John Bisignano

Director: Asif Kapadia

Runtime: 106 min

Genres: Biography, Documentary, Sport

7.8 /10 79 /100 8.5 /10 8.1 /10