Film review: Senna

RECONSTRUCTED from contemporary television clips and ultra-rare behind-the-scenes footage, Asif Kapadia's portrait of the late, great Formula One champion Ayrton Senna is a masterful piece of documentary film-making that keeps after-the-fact commentary to a minimum to give us a gripping account of a racing legend without mythologising him out of all proportion.

Tracing his rise from the go-kart tracks of Brazil to his emergence as one of the most daring drivers in F1, the film dissects his bitter rivalry with Alain Prost, his faith-driven belief in his own preternatural abilities, and his increasing concerns and frustrations over the safety of the cars he was driving. Though his pronouncements over his invincibility can't help but be infused with dramatic irony, Kapadia carefully builds up the story so that even while most viewers will know the tragic outcome, it never feels morbid.

There's certainly a creeping sense of dread, and Kapadia utilises this to ratchet up the tension, but never in an exploitative way. Indeed, what this remarkable and accessible film ultimately does is celebrate genuine talent by reminding us what it looks like in its purest form, away from the circus of celebrity.