Ferrari is a watchable race-car drama based on the life of Enzo Ferrari.
It is based on the 1991 biography called ‘Enzo Ferrari: The Man, the Cars, the Races, the Machine’ by motorsport journalist Brock YatesS
Set during the summer of 1957, Enzo’s racing days are over, and he is focused on making his car business profitable.
I didn’t do any research before watching the film and it seems to be based on facts. The film wasn’t what I was expecting. There’s a large focus on his relationships over racing cars.
Enzo has a son, Dino, who’s just passed away and the couple are going through the difficult grieving process. On top of that, he has another son to his mistress that he’s trying to keep a secret. As a result, he spends a large amount of time negotiating with his wife and his mistress.
The business starts to have money problems and is on the verge of bankruptcy. Enzo thinks if he’ll get good publicity if he wins Mille Miglia. It’s a popular race that is driven on public roads around Italy. Then the sales will follow.
Unfortunately, there’s not enough time watching racing cars. It’s all leading up to the race at the end. There’s some spectacular scenery but again rather short. It all starts to unravel in a devastating car crash. (Some may find these scenes unexpectedly shocking).
Sadly, it’s a time when the safety of the drivers and spectators was not considered.
The camera work is noticeably clumsy in two parts. The second on purpose, but unnecessarily jarring neither the less.
I liked the old cars and fashion. It seems authentic for the period, but there’s just not enough (hot) Italians and Italian culture.
If I was in charge of casting, I would have made very different decisions. Penelope Cruz suits her character, the other leads not so much. The dodgy accents are hard to understand at times.
Ferrari is one for petrol heads and car lovers who want to find out about this time of motor racing history.
Ferrari drives into cinemas on 4 January 2024.
About Ferrari
Ferrari is set during the summer of 1957. Ex-racecar driver, Ferrari, is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for one son and the acknowledgement of another. He decides to counter his losses by rolling the dice on one race – 1,000 miles across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia.
Ferrari is directed by Michael Mann and stars Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, Shailene Woodley, Patrick Dempsey, Jack O’Connell, Sarah Gadon and Gabriel Leone.
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