With the ongoing interest in Formula One and a public hungry for more insight into the Greats, we have three documentaries coming this fall: Schumacher ’94, Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend and The Kaiser. All three offerings cover the early days of F1 drivers’ careers. As always, getting the historical facts right can prove challenging. Just look at the blatant errors and omissions in Ron Howard’s film Rush. So, looking at the early clips and official trailers, what’s coming?
First off is The Kaiser, the vision of Bulgarian filmmaker Lubo Marinov, covering the early years of Schumacher’s first drive with the Jordan F1 team. Most current-day F1 fans would be hard-pressed to recount what it took to get onto a Grand Prix grid. Add to that a thirty-plus-year timeline and it becomes a tricky story to recreate.
The Kaiser was made on what would, by today’s standards, be considered a very small budget. Recreating all the historical details, from cars to driver apparel and locations, would be a monumental task for any art department. This small group of filmmakers has taken on the challenge, from recreating the iconic Jordan 191 in wood and plaster to producing remarkably detailed clothing and helmets on what Hollywood would consider no budget.
So yes, there are no race scenes, except for studio back-projection screens and some historical footage, but it all seems to work. It is a small-budget film made from passion and it recounts an important event in the life of the great Michael Schumacher.
The second film goes back even further and tells the story of the Great Canadian Gilles Villeneuve. Not the Ferrari days, but before that, when a sometimes-struggling race driver was trying to make it.
Many will recall the race in 1976 when soon-to-be World Champion James Hunt guested at a Formula Atlantic race in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and was beaten by Villeneuve. Back at McLaren, Hunt made a point of telling everyone about this talented French Canadian.
The film also depicts the struggle to secure funding, with Villeneuve at one point selling the family home to pay the retainer for his first Formula Atlantic ride. Like The Kaiser, the budget for this film was low and, unfortunately, many details appear to have slipped through the cracks. However, Villeneuve: The Rise of a Legend is still an important historical story for the true motorsport enthusiast.
Last, but by no means least, is Schumacher ’94, focusing on the incredibly turbulent 1994 season.
Perhaps a turning point. For the longest time, Grand Prix racing seemed safe - well, as safe as it could be. Then the deaths of Roland Ratzenberger and Ayrton Senna issued a stern wake-up call. Imola would not be the end of the controversy. A two-race ban for Schumacher, coupled with two disqualifications during the season, added to the drama.
Adelaide, the final Grand Prix, would determine the World Champion, and it certainly did not disappoint. The season went right down to the wire. In the end, Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill collided and both retired, leaving Schumacher to take the 1994 World Championship by one point.
Release dates have still not been established, with all three expected to air this fall, except for Schumacher ’94, which arrives on Netflix October 2nd.
As more release dates come forward, we’ll give you our full perspective.