Michael Mann’s brilliant sports film Ferrari The film was two decades in the making, and speaking at Deadline’s Contenders event in London, the director admitted there were times when he thought his passion project about the life of Enzo Ferrari would never succeed.
“There were many times when I thought this movie was impossible to make,” Mann said. “And then I would go back and reread the script, and what was magical and exciting about it would come out again and again, and I would always remain completely committed to the script.”
The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in August, tells the story of the life of Enzo Ferrari. The story takes place in 1957, as the marriage of Enzo (Adam Driver) and Laura (Penelope Cruz) begins to fall apart due to his debauchery and the recent tragic death of their young son. Their unsettled home world is on a collision course with his work life as Enzo faces two major turning points: the financial pressure to increase productivity, which means going against his long-held desire to produce only race cars, and preparing for a treacherous cross. – Mille Miglia race on the open road.
This film, according to Mann, “echoes our lives.”
“Our lives are not decided,” he said. “We don’t have ambivalence and there is the typical drama that is resolved in the end. (In life) there is usually no solution. We usually live in a state of contradiction, and sometimes in two opposite or simply true things, as happens to the people in this film.”
Mann talked about how he developed a friendship with Piero Ferrari, Enzo Ferrari’s second and only living son, who gave the director “enormous trust” to tell the story. “Obviously this is very personal for him,” Mann said.
Speaking about working with Driver and Cruise, Mann said: “Penelope understood Laura’s deep, deep belief system very well. Her beliefs are very, very strong… she is locked in a prison of mourning.”
When asked if he would confirm that Driver will be cast in his upcoming sequel to the classic crime drama. HeatMann said: “Adam and I got along like a house on fire. We have the same work ethic – it was pretty intense and we had a great time working together creatively.”
Mann was joined by the film’s production designer, Maria Djurkovic, and cinematographer Eric Messerschmidt.
Watch the video of the panel above.