Spoiler warning: This article discusses spoilers for “Ferrari.”
Starring Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari, founder of car manufacturer and racing team Scuderia Ferrari, and directed by Michael Mann, “Ferrari” (2023) is not your typical car movie.
The film does not tell the life story of Ferrari and how he started his company; rather, it opens a window into a short period in his life in which he faced financial and marital difficulties. It paints a portrait of a time when the iconic brand was near the brink of collapse and the emotional state of its founder was floundering along with it. General audiences might struggle to understand the film if they lack historical knowledge of the company and of Ferrari’s personal life. Still, they will get the hang of the plot around halfway through.
Anyone with a love of cars, especially red ones, will walk out of the movie content with at least that aspect of it. That said, the movie’s main triumph is in the acting of Driver and Penelope Cruz, who portrays Laura Ferrari, blowing the audience away with heartfelt performances of deeply flawed people.
The movie is focused on grief, dealing with the death of Ferrari’s only legitimate son, and the weight of family. Shailene Woodley portrays Lina Lardi, Ferrari’s mistress and mother of Piero Ferrari, the illegitimate son of Ferrari and current vice chairman of the company. Woodley’s role is not as demanding as the main leads, but she gives a stellar performance either way.
The pace of the movie is slow at times, and for those not interested in Ferrari’s marriage, it can get boring. When it comes to the racing aspect, the movie does not shy away from the commonplace dangers faced by drivers in those days, showing gory car accidents that frighten the audience in masterfully directed scenes that show the suddenness of such events.
The climax of the movie is the recreation of a graphic, fatal accident, witnessed by various civilians. The film shows some of the immediate aftermath but then ends abruptly without resolving issues for Ferrari or his company.
The movie is worth a watch if you are a fan of racing and raw, visceral acting. But it is not a film that will appeal much to general audiences or leave any cultural impact. Ultimately, audiences still have to wait for a good biopic of Scuderia Ferrari and its role in the world of racing.
