FERRARI

US, 2023, 130 minutes, Colour.

Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Gabriel Leone.

Directed by Michael Mann.

Ferrari. Italian cars. Racing and drivers. Company rivalries over the decades.

This is a film by veteran director, Michael Mann, noted over the decades for such films as Thief, Heat, Miami Vice, Public Enemies. On the one hand, there is the important focus on Ferrari himself, an initial black-and-white prologue showing him as a racing driver before World War II, his skills, his engineering talent, his establishing racing rallies after World War II. On the other hand, there is his personal drama.

For those enthusiastic about racing cars, competitions, the details of drivers, selection, training, actual racing, competitiveness, there will be much to enjoy with the frequent racing sequences.

For those not so enthusiastic about racing cars, attention might well wonder during some of the long racing sequences. They will have to concentrate on the drama.

Enzo Ferrari is played by Adam Driver, a tall and sombre presence, not often laughing let alone smiling, intense on cars, racing, business. He has married before the war, Laura, a very strong and unexpected performance by Penelope Cruz. Enzo and Laura are credited with establishing the Italian racing culture after the war. They had a son but he had succumbed to illness and died just before this film opens, 1957. While alienated in the relationship, there is still some passion, but Laura tends to the business and Enzo is living with Lena (Shailene Woodley) and the young son whom Enzo hopes will inherit the business.

There are quite some complications about the business, rival Italian companies, American financial interests, Ferrari influence on media, depending on Laura for financial support.

Some commentators have mentioned The Godfather as a comparison with this film, the focus on family, business, intrigues, power situations (but not the ruthless violence).

Depending on audience involvement with Ferrari and racing, the interest in the family situations might not compelling.

One aspect of racing that this film does not shirk in any way is the potential for accidents, an initial sequence showing a skid, the racing driver ejected from his car into the air and crashing. And, towards the end, in the racing of the Mille Miglia there is an appalling accident, filmed graphically and shockingly, the star driver having a tyre punctured by an object on the road, skidding into a number of the fans, their being struck down, close-up.

For Grand Prix and competition enthusiasts. For non-fans, a caution.

1. Based on a true story, characters? The actual Enzo Ferrari, his history, the situation in 1957, his company, marriage, relationship with Lina, his son? The Mille Miglia, the accident?
2. The film for an audience who loves racing cars, machines, memories of the 1950s, competitiveness? The human story and drama for those less interested in racing cars?
3. Modena, the city, homes, garages, historical buildings? The countryside in homes? The atmosphere and look of the 1950s, costumes and decor, television, the media? Racing cars? Europe in competitiveness?
4. The visualising of the races, the training, the testing, editing and pace, subjective angles for the audience, the races themselves, excitement? Dangers?
5. The initial accident, the driver thrown into the air, the crash? The race and the different crashes? The final disaster, the puncture of the tire, the hurtling of the car, the killing of so many spectators, the visuals of the bodies lying by the roadside?
6. Adam Driver as Ferrari, his age, the prologue and the newsreel of his driving, his company, set up with Laura, the competitions? 1957, the issues of money, Laura managing the business, the difficulties, prospects, financial advice, the breakdown of his marriage, with Lina, the son? Prospects of sale, negotiations with Ford, with attack on companies?
7. Enzo and Laura, the happy years, the death of their son at a young age, the visits to the cemetery the break, their discussions, the moment of passion, Laura and the business tangles? Enzo with Lina, his life with her, the secrecy, Laura not knowing, Paolo, his hopes in him, domestic life, the father-son relationship, the issue of getting the autograph from the driver? Lina, her character, their meeting during the war, her pregnancy, love, understanding, support? The move into Modena?
8. The range of drivers, checking the drivers, their personalities, qualifications, personal lives and relationships? Enzo and his somewhat detached manner, aloof, a man of ideas? Supervising?
9. The personalities of the drivers, the business associates, the variety of skills, personal lives?
10. The race, the buildup, choice of drivers, explanations, presentation to the media, the phone call from the businessman, Enzo setting the issue up but denying all responsibility and knowledge?
11. The drama of the race, the visual styles and editing? The horror of the accident, the driver, the mangled car, the number of spectators killed? The response of the media, the attack, scapegoating Enzo? The television interviews?
12. The examination of the car, the discovery of the puncture to the wheel? The discussions with Laura, her cashing the cheque, his feeling bitter, her explanations, not wanting him to be a scapegoat, lending him the money to fight the future?
13. The final information, the death of Laura, the death of Enzo, Lina and Paolo, Paolo and his place in the company? The success of the Ferrari company?