Several years ago, there was the hit movie Ford v. Ferrari, I liked it but I was still cheering for Ferrari because Ford has always (and still does) made shit cars with the horrible DNA of its founder in them. Henry Ford openly supported Hitler and had his own personal KGB intrude into the employees’ homes and lives to see if they attended church/mass, drank, enjoyed gambling, etc. Not that Enzo Ferrari was a saint; his personal flaws could be more forgivable as this movie only covers a tiny snapshot of his life around 1957.
Why 1957 necessarily? It was a make-or-break year for the Ferrari Corporation. Enzo was spending more on the racing team than he was bringing in selling sports cars. Meanwhile, his competitors (Maserati namely) are taking on partners to survive and race another day.
I can see how this would be anathema to Ferrari. Even then as it is today with all the shit-bird hedge funds, he would lose control of the brand while they whore the name out on terrible vehicles. I for one will never buy any car built in Mexico nor China, quality doesn’t translate to their workers.
Now back to the story…Enzo gambles everything on winning Italy’s annual Mille Miglia (A Thousand Miles) for it will change his fortunes; as anyone who matters always wants to buy the winner’s brand! Monarchs, dictators, movie stars and millionaires! This is how Enzo rationalizes things.
Complicating the situation is juggling his marriage (in name only) to Laura, she owns half of the corporation due to an incident in WWII, and a relationship with his current mistress Lina and their son. His cavalier, dismissive attitude toward all drivers killed operating his cars doesn’t help; he blames their lack of skill or focus. Plus he’s a celebrity in a country with a pretty relentless media. Italy did coin the term paparazzi!
I loved this movie but if you’re expecting frequent races, you will be very disappointed. The plot is a build-up to the Mille Miglia which does feature really awesome sequences starring these amazing cars in the days of no seat belts, no fire-retardant jumpsuits and hardly any survivors. It wasn’t much of an Italian language lesson neither, it’s 99% in English with all the actors doing non-cartoony accents. Some words came up, namely how Ferrari’s under-lings addressed him, condirettore. It’s literally “co-director” but in the proper context for English it would be “yes sir” or “you got it boss.” The accidents are tasteful too. You’ll see why 1957 was the last year this race was held and how it nearly destroyed Ferrari too. Director Mann spared us all of the horrible Eli Roth-level details. Check it out if you’re a fan of History and Drama, even if you dislike racing movies such as Fast & Furious crap. I do admit, I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Cannonball Run and the movie it ripped off, Gumball Rally.
Alamo Extras:
- Betty Boop cartoon of car racing.
- Trailers for Magnificent Obsession and The Tarnished Angels.
- Silent movies of…a bed pulled by a race car, a race and a bed that is the race car. About half of this is Mack Sennett stuff.
- Music video for Precious Wilson’s “We are on the Race Track.”
- Tutorial on Mille Miglia, how a past accident in the Twenties influenced Enzo Ferrari to stop racing and make cars. Ergo, the 1957 run is vital to him.