Senna, the movie
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Henry-F

Original Poster:

4,791 posts

275 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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What a great film giving some insight into not only Senna's life but also behind the scenes of F1 which was quite eye opening! He was a better man than I taking it on the chin like that.


The last scene in the film was heartening to see. smile



Henry smile




mollytherocker

14,468 posts

239 months

Sunday 20th November 2011
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I was (am) a big Senna fan and I found the film a little emotional! I thought THAT weekend was handled very well with very little commentary.

I know its been said before, but there was something wrong about that weekend at Imola and it was like Senna knew.

Was there a little tear in the Firman eye?

MTR

Henry-F

Original Poster:

4,791 posts

275 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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I've had the film sitting here for a few days and I wasn't really expecting that much from it if that doesn't sound too crass. I was waiting for the right time to view it and I'm glad I did. Yes, it leaves you feeling a bit strange, but not in a bad way. A very well made production.

Did he know something was wrong? I'm not sure. A car that he couldn't really lean on because it wasn't balanced. A guy who wasn't just there to make up the numbers and as anyone who's ever raced will contest the worst case scenario always runs through your mind at various times during the weekend.

With someone that great the sense of loss is such that hearing, "it was just an unfortunate accident" isn't enough.


As ever,

Henry smile

sal 965

586 posts

241 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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The greatest legacy from disc 2 is the work the institute is doing. If Senna had lived and retired from racing in whatever year the good he could have done would have been amazing for Brazil.

To me, that's the real regret. And I believe he could have had Schumacher in 94,95 and Hill in 96, Villeneuve in 97 which would have changed racing history at least.


willmac

2,087 posts

194 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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A fantastic film, which I have watched 3 times already. Very well paced film leading to the unavoidable emotional ending.
Even my 9 year old son recognises the fact that Senna was a driver head and shoulders above all others. There never has been, or probably will be again in my lifetime such a focussed and naturally gifted driver.


monstro

89 posts

179 months

Monday 21st November 2011
quotequote all
I was (am) a big Senna fan and I found the film a little emotional! I thought THAT weekend was handled very well with very little commentary.

I know its been said before, but there was something wrong about that weekend at Imola and it was like Senna knew.

Was there a little tear in the Firman eye?

MTR

Senna was reluctant to race that weekend after Ratzenbergers death and Barichellos bad accident the days before, and those last shots of his eyes whilst sitting in the car on the grid looked like the eyes of a guy about to meet his destiny, who knows, he did claim a pretty good connection with God!

He certainly kept me transfixed to F1 up until his untimely death!

Trev450

6,770 posts

202 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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Fantastic movie about an even more amazing person. He was and will remain in my estimation the best ever.

khushy

3,984 posts

249 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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If you ever get the chance to visit Imola -- DO SO -- its a stunning racetrack set in the middle of the town. The Molino Rosso Hotel is pretty decent - you get your own single garage too.

Khushy

Slippydiff

16,468 posts

253 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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I saw it at the flicks just once (I've recently bought the DVD but not wanted to watch it) I'm happy to admit the footage of him in the car after the accident brought tears to my eyes.

I think I'm right in saying that Frank Williams went on record as saying that Senna came to Franks hotel room late on the Saturday night (allegedly in his PJs ! !) and expressed concerns that something terrible was going to happen in the race the following day. Frank told him he didn't have to race, but I guess the driven side of Senna couldn't bear the thought of Schumacher gaining an even larger points advantage over him.

I believe that Sid Watkins and Senna also had some very deep and meaningful discussions both on the Friday and Saturday of that weekend.

The Proff states in his book that he's agnostic but I got the impression he knew or felt that Senna might be about to meet his maker that weekend (as indeed did Senna)

truck71

2,328 posts

202 months

Monday 21st November 2011
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I watched it for the first time last night, aside from the other comments already made the one other thing that stood out was the superior incar footage. You feel the purer noise/full vibration from the car transmitted to the screen- don't seem to quite get that anymore.

Vane

9 posts

227 months

Sunday 8th January 2012
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Awesome, nuff said!

Gary11

4,163 posts

231 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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Very moving,that drive for williams getting a pig of a car on pole said it all for me .I stayed in and watched his funeral in Sao Paulo the Brasilians treated him like a saint,IMO F1 has not been the same since his loss,I found his thoughts and reactions to the accidents before the race involving Ratzenberger and Rubens just so profound,almost like he knew he shouldnt race but had too....Gfrown

nickfrog

25,414 posts

247 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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Excellent film. I particularly liked the insight into the Prost-Senna relationship and was expecting more anti-Prost bias but it wasn't too bad.

Ballestre = what a moron!

anonymous-user

84 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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I have the DVD sat on my desk - got it for xmas

Will wait for a quiet evening to watch it in peace

Still sends shivers up my back thinking back to watching that race in halls at uni...

sticks090460

1,125 posts

188 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
Jean-Marie Balestre was almost as bad.........

Sorry, couldn't resist.

cragswinter

21,429 posts

226 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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Good, mainly because he was my childhood hero. Remember him konking out at silverstone & offering him a bottle of water. That was the closest I ever got but it was good enough for me biggrin

Films good but mainly as it stirred up so many emotions from so long ago.

If you like motorsport, tt3d:closer to the edge & 24hoursredfacene team, one target are better.

sticks090460

1,125 posts

188 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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cragswinter said:
If you like motorsport, tt3d:closer to the edge & 24hoursredfacene team, one target are better.
Spot on, especially the TT film

Crimp a Length!

5,697 posts

253 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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Very good put together/film documentary.
Surprised to see how many politics involved

ph123

1,841 posts

248 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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When I saw the Senna film first time, I also felt like coming on here (Pistonheads) and trying to alert the motoring world as to just how good it was.
I met the two director/producer lads and they are still buzzing from what they managed to produce. In most 'Film of the Year' reviews I've heard of, it's in the top 10 if not top 5 from 2011 and Oscars were considered for it.
I also think as a competitor Henry, you also have a proper empathy with the stresses and the rewards that if you are serious about doing well, just how much resource you go through to get a Club race win, and what he went through to get to the very top, the best/fastest in the World. It is very moving because the film does describe what we may find difficult to get across: the buzz and commitment of actual one-on-one competition race cars. Not that UK Club racing is THAT heavy, but the frission, the charcter is definitely there ...

Just as a PS, the producers told me they had a 5 hour film ready 2 years ago ... it took them that long to reduce it to the consumeable final film we see. The big imput was Bernie, letting them into the F1 library (twice! - unheard of) which made it as special as it gets. Both he, Ron Dennis and the Senna family were especially moved by the final draft. By the way, John Bisignano the commentator you critisise was a serious peddler in the UK himself for a while before moving on ...

No, I didn't 'like' Senna either. I rekoned anyone who thought whichever God was on there side would think themselves invincible, which was bloody dangerous for the rest of us. Anyway, I though Martin Brundle was the better man ...

Edited by ph123 on Wednesday 11th January 10:04


Edited by ph123 on Wednesday 11th January 10:07

graemel

7,229 posts

247 months

Tuesday 10th January 2012
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I watched the movie on DVD over Christmas. My niece wanted us to see it. I think she has seen it at the movies three or four times. Bought all the various DVD's about his history and life style. She's got a little obsessed with Senna really. Even had the Senna 'S' tattoed on her left wrist.
What can I say. I've never been an avid Formula 1 fan. I admire all of the greats of which of course Senna was. I prefer to be doing it rather than watching it. I should say it frustrates me watching it. Not that in real terms have I raced that much. A few highlights over the years.
Politics. Can you imagine what it is like now. Even in lowly club racing politics rears its ugly head far to often. Interested to see his hero was Juan Manuel Fangio as is mine. There where many heart wrenching moments in the film. The interview with Jackie Stewart which I don't think either were very confortable with. The reality would you go in as hard if you knew your car was liable to become a fire ball ?.
I understand Prost when he says Senna thought he was invincible and one of those heart wrenching moments was watching Prost help carry the coffin.
Perhaps being a little contraversial as the film would be slighted in Senna's favour but I don't like bully's, I have never been a bully and I won't be bullied. Something that I have always taken to the race track with me. If you allow another competitor to bully you on or off the track you may as well hang your helmet up. One of the best at that game was Mr.Berridge. Great character.