Senna (2010)
Senna is a 2010 documentary movie directed by Asif Kapadia, with a running time of 1h 46m. It stars Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost and Frank Williams.
Built entirely from archival footage, no talking heads breaking the spell. Ayrton Senna arrives in Formula One in 1984, a Brazilian with a driver's faith that borders on the religious and a hunger for the perfect lap. The film follows his rise through the sport's fiercest rivalries, the politics of the paddock, and the private conviction that speed was a way of getting closer to God. Asif Kapadia lets the races and press conferences of the era carry it, so you watch history unfold from inside the cockpit rather than hear it recounted after the fact.
Quick answers
What is Senna about?
Built entirely from archival footage, no talking heads breaking the spell. Ayrton Senna arrives in Formula One in 1984, a Brazilian with a driver's faith that borders on the religious and a hunger for the perfect lap. The film follows his rise through the sport's fiercest rivalries, the politics of the paddock, and the private conviction that speed was a way of getting closer to God. Asif Kapadia lets the races and press conferences of the era carry it, so you watch history unfold from inside the cockpit rather than hear it recounted after the fact.
When was Senna released?
Senna was released on 7 October 2010.
How long is Senna?
Senna runs 1h 46m.
Who made Senna?
Senna was directed by Asif Kapadia.
Where can I watch Senna?
Senna is available on YouTube Free.
Where to watch Senna
Watch free with ads: YouTube Free
Official site
Cast
- Ayrton Senna as Self (archive footage)
- Alain Prost as Self
- Frank Williams as Self
- Ron Dennis as Self
- Viviane Senna as Self
- Milton da Silva as Self (archive footage)
- Neyde Senna as Self (archive footage)
- Jackie Stewart as Self (archive footage)
- Sid Watkins as Self
- Galvão Bueno as Self
- Reginaldo Leme as Self
- Gerhard Berger as Self (archive footage)
Similar movies
Explore Senna guides
Senna in our writing
- Companion guide: Racing & Motorsport
- Companion guide: Sports & Underdogs
A few thoughts on Senna
If this leaves you wanting more of the man, Senna dramatizes the same career as a scripted series, filling in the rooms the cameras never reached. Rafa turns to another athlete whose greatness ran on obsession, trading engines for a tennis racket but keeping the same monkish drive to be the best.
Documentaries that let real footage tell the story
Senna uses no talking heads, only archive, so you watch history unfold from inside the era. These documentaries get close to their subjects the same way, through concert tapes, home footage, and cameras that keep rolling on the low moments. Portraits of famous lives assembled from what was actually caught on film.