Expertly combining archival footage and interviews, the film operates as a fitting tribute to the racing legend, as it takes viewers through the key moments in his racing and personal lives. Rather than attempting to paint a narrative or feed any existing one as to who the ‘real’ Schumacher was, the film takes the absolute right approach, allowing his family, friends (and sometimes foes) to provide detail, backstory, and fresh insights into some of Schumacher’s greatest and toughest moments. The directing trio of Hanns-Bruno Kammertöns, Vanessa Nöcker, and Michael Wech simply operate as shepherds here, fully understanding this is not their story tell, and that gives the entire feel of the film huge heart. It’s heart no more apparent than when his wife, Corinna discusses how Michael continues to survive his tragic skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013. The first time the family have publicly spoken on the condition of Schumacher since the accident. “He still shows me that fight every day” she mentions at one stage when referring to his competitive spirit. This film however is put together in such a way that his present well-being is not a looming presence over proceedings. Its journey through his most crucial moments within F1 is, at its core a lot like 2020’s Basketball phenom“The Last Dance”, a both grand and intimate look at one of sports most fierce competitors. It may lack the new takes and content for the hardcore Schumacher fans out there who know every inch of his glittering career (though they will still enjoy the ride), but for casual fans, the archival dive into his humble beginnings, his move to Ferrari, and his epic Championship final day battles certainly thrill. With his tempestuous but respectful rivalry with Mika Häkkinen the highlight. In an era in which we seem to have been blessed with fantastic Formula 1 content, from Netflix’s own “Drive to Survive” series, and Asif Kapadia’s sporting triumph ‘Senna” (the death of whom impacted Schumacher greatly), this is certainly a great companion to the latter, with its blend of raw competition and wheel to wheel action counteracted by its more insightful, stripped-back and honestly, quite moving moments. It does its upmost to mirror Schumacher himself, and succeeds. [B+] Contribute Hire me
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