When you mention the name “Ayrton Senna”, you will probably elicit a broad range of responses. You may get a blank stare. Who is Ayrton Senna anyways? To some F1 fans, he was a villain. He was certainly involved in more than his share of end-of-season-championship-deciding accidents. To others, he was an F1 legend. And if you are from Brazil, he was a national hero on par with Pele.

Athletes at the top of their sport tend to elicit these polarizing responses. In that regard, Senna was no different than a Michael Jordan or Roger Staubach, and his skill as one of the greatest racing drivers to grace the planet cannot be overlooked. This man was the real deal when he was behind the wheel.

He was also the real deal when he wasn’t behind the wheel. The film documentary “Senna” shows us all sides of the late Ayrton Senna – and does so with grace, beauty and passion.

It seems appropriate that the only person that could play Ayrton in a film would be Ayrton himself. Director Asif Kapadia and writer Manish Pandey have done a tremendous job of capturing the true meaning, life and soul of Senna by way of 104 minutes of archival footage from around the world. The footage tells his story far better than any actor ever could. The movie is impressive in the scope of the footage and audio that has been compiled.

Kapadia covers some very important milestones early in Senna’s career. There was the stunning performance in the rain in the under-powered Toleman at the Monaco GP in 1984. His car control was masterful, and it is all the more apparent when you watch it on the big screen. There was his first victory in Portugal in 1988 with Lotus. And, of course, there was the victory in the Brazilian Grand Prix in front of thousands of screaming Brazilians.

But the focus of the film is his “wonder years” with McLaren (1988 – 1993) when he battled Alain Prost. Prost was a natural racing protagonist for Senna if ever there was one. With real world politics and racing, who needs any extra drama? Kapadia lets history speak for itself.

The San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 was, without question, the worst weekend in modern-day F1 history. I remember arising early that morning of May 1, 1994 to watch the race live on TV as I had done many times before. I distinctly remember those first 7 laps, and the fateful moment at Tamburello. Tears well up in my eyes just reflecting on it 17 years later. Kapadia and Pandey have provided a touching and insightful overview of that weekend without over-dramatizing it. Again, real world action is dramatic enough.

I went to see the premier on August 26, the eve of my birthday. Senna’s story – his life, unfolding on the screen - was a vivid reminder to live with passion, with desire, and with a zest for life itself. Senna’s deep spirituality and personal integrity is touching. I found myself on the verge of tears, not just with the impending Imola weekend, but with the joy exhibited throughout his 34 years. Kapadia gives us Senna living on the vivid edge of life, where you discover who you really are, beyond the level of consciousness. Senna’s life was certainly made for the big screen, and his persona extended far beyond the boundaries of Formula One.

“Senna” is a tremendous movie of self-discovery and living life to the fullest - for F1 fans and non-fans alike. It is a celebration of one man’s amazing yet far-too-brief time on the planet. He continues to be sadly missed, yet this film serves as an incredible tribute to an incredible human spirit.

 Photo credits: Wikipedia