As of this Monday (2), the TV Brazil presents the production Ayrton: Portraits and Memories, about one of the biggest national idols of the sport, the Brazilian pilot Ayrton Senna. The public broadcaster honors the late three-time Formula 1 champion by showing the series from Monday to Friday, at 6 pm, with two consecutive episodes. The attraction is also on the TV Brasil Play app.
The documentary series airs on the small screen throughout the week in which the death of a world motorsport myth is remembered. Senna died on May 1, 1994, after a serious accident during the San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy.
The driver lost control of his Williams while chasing Benetton’s rival, then-young German Michael Schumacher, a new talent in the category. Senna’s car went straight through the Tamburello corner until it crashed into the wall at high speed. The tragic crash ended the sportsman’s life and the hope of thousands of Brazilians who woke up early on Sunday mornings just to follow the star’s achievements and celebrate victories, records and titles at racetracks like Monaco.
With ten editions of 25 minutes, the program brings an intimate, emotional and revealing perspective on the backstage of Ayrton Senna da Silva’s routine. To tell the story and celebrate the legacy left by him, the attraction brings together around 60 interviews with several people who lived with the pilot who died young, at just 34 years old.
The production mainly highlights aspects of Senna’s experience outside the circuits. The series on display in the public broadcaster’s programming is inspired by the work of journalist Ernesto Rodrigues, who is also the athlete’s biographer. He transforms the pages of his book and recovers personal moments and achievements from Ayrton Senna’s professional career.
To write the book and then direct the series, the author interviewed pilots and ex-pilots, international correspondents, people who worked directly with Senna, artists and media personalities. Friends, admirers and track mates recall curious and amusing stories. The archive is enriched with high resolution collection images of various expressive events.
Obsessed with winning disputes, Senna marked an era and his determination and talent span generations. The public today can check out on social media excerpts of races with amazing maneuvers and incredible overtakes by the Brazilian who made the closed world of Formula 1 surrender to the emotion of his achievements.
With technique, insight and dedication, the pilot transformed the way Brazilians watched races. Weekly, the public anxiously waited for that young man to raise his arms and, inside his car, hold the flag of the country that fluttered to the sound of the victory song and, on the podium of the national anthem.
Disputes with rivals
The production rescues the beginning of his karting career and the enormous perception that Senna had on the racetracks. The skill and boldness for risky maneuvers were characteristics that mark the work of the pilot who was determined to be the best.
The remarkable passages by Toleman, Lotus and McLaren are highlighted. The disagreements with fellow Brazilian Nelson Piquet and the troubled relationship with some teammates are remembered. The dispute with Frenchman Alain Prost was fierce and Senna outdid himself in the competition to beat his rival.
The series also talks about Senna’s friendship with Austrian pilot Gerhard Berger. The emergence of new opponents is addressed by showing the tension of the honoree in his last season in the category, in the hitherto victorious Williams, with the emergence of the young talent Michael Schumacher.
Datasheet
Direction and Screenplay: Ernesto Rodrigues
Photography Direction: Roberto Riva
Production: Gina Marques, João Rodrigues, Mitsuo Kawasaki, Paula Arantes and Pedro Pedreira
Search: Paulo Rubens Sampaio
Sound: Diogo Correa
Edition: Thiago Maia
Distribution: Bizum Communication Ltd.
Gender: documentary
Episodes: 10
Duration: 25 minutes
Year: 2015
Parental rating: Free
Live and on demand
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Your favorite programs can be found on TV Brasil Play, through the website play.ebc.com.br or through the smartphone app. The app can be downloaded for free and is available for Android and iOS. Also watch on WebTV: tvbrasil.ebc.com.br/webtv.
Service
Ayrton: Portraits and Memories – Monday to Friday, between the 2nd and 6th of May, at 18:00, at TV Brazil
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