Why We Are Racing into Theaters to See the Ferrari Movie
Classic Italian style, sleek race cars and a blockbuster cast make "Ferrari" a must-see look into the carmaker who built the legendary performance brand.
Jana Askeland
|
Adam Driver. Penélope Cruz. Italian Style. Classic Cars.
Everyone needs a mini-getaway during the holidays, and for many, it’s become a holiday tradition to go to the movies for the latest blockbuster release. This year, there’s a thrilling addition to our Christmas watchlist—the release of the much-anticipated Ferrari movie, set to hit the screens on December 25th.
As Ferrari revs its engine for a Christmas Day release, it promises to be a great addition to holiday “to-do” lists. This movie positioned not just as a film; it’s an experience—an escape into a world of elegance, power, and adrenaline that promises to leave us on the edge of our seats.
Ferrari is about the iconic automotive entrepreneur Enzo Ferrari. Ferrari is the visionary founder of one of Europe’s most illustrious car manufacturers (and former race car driver), and his legacy transcends the realm of automobiles. The movie is set during a turbulent few months in 1957 when the Italian automaker’s private and professional lives threatened to careen out of control.
As someone who loves the subject, it will be lots of fun to see the cars. But it’s the carmaker’s passion and stylish details that intrigue me more.
Related: Movie Cars That Outshine the Stars
The star-studded cast of the Ferrari Movie: Patrick Dempsey, Shailene Woodley, director Michael Mann, Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz and Gabriel Leone. Photo: Ferrari-Film.com
The Cast of Ferrari is Impressive
Adam Driver, who brought dripping elegance and incorrigible charm to Maurizio Gucci in House of Gucci, plays Enzo Ferrari. Driver’s range with characters, as seen in Star Wars sequel trilogy, Marriage Story and the raw but endearing character Adam in Girls, was aged twenty years older for the part, thanks to Hollywood magic.
The star power doesn’t end with Driver. The supporting cast is a who’s who of Hollywood, with many accomplished actors in the credits:
- Academy Award-winning Penélope Cruz plays Laura Ferrari, Enzo’s frustrated wife and the majority owner of the burgeoning automotive brand.
- People’s Sexiest Man Alive, Patrick Dempsey, shows up as a platinum blonde Piero Taruffi, a real-life Italian race car driver. And here’s a fun fact: McDreamy raced for many years as a driver with Porsche Motorsports in real life
- Shailene Woodley from the series Divergent and Big Little Lies plays Ferrari’s mistress, Lina Lardi, who has a son with Ferrari.
And with director Michael Mann (Heat) at the helm, the film promises all the rich visuals and seat-thumping experiences a film like this should deliver. The movie chronicles Ferrari’s rise from a young racing enthusiast to the helm of a global automotive empire. From the highs of founding a brand synonymous with speed and luxury to the lows of financial struggles and intense competition, the film sets out to capture the essence of Ferrari’s unshakeable spirit.
Shot on location in Brescia, in northwest Italy, is also where the legendary Mille Miglia open-road racing competition takes place.
Enzo Ferrari was relentless in his pursuit of greatness. Photo: Ferrari-film.com
History Buffs Will enjoy the Ferrari Movie
The 1950s marked a transformative era in American auto culture. Following World War II, U.S. factories shifted from war-related production to making consumer goods. This shift helped revitalize the economy and during that time, one in six working Americans were in the automotive industry. The United States emerged as the world’s leading automobile manufacturer, fulfilling Henry Ford’s vision that an automobile should be within reach for any man with a good job.
The 1950s witnessed a huge expansion of service businesses catering to car owners, epitomized by the rise of drive-through restaurants and the surge in drive-in theaters. At the same time, a juxtaposition unfolded between European sophistication, exemplified by Ferrari’s elegant roadsters, and the robust American car culture.
The difference was clear: European finesse contested American muscle. European brands like Porsche, Lamborghini, and Mercedes-Benz were sleek and sexy during the time. Meanwhile, American automakers Ford, Buick, and Chevy were making much larger iconic muscle cars like the 1955 Chevy Bel Air and the 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
To see the brutal but rich time in automotive history come to life on the screen is definitely another thing that makes this movie such a visual delight.
The cars are their own characters in this period drama. Photo: Ferrari-Film Gallery
Stylish and Moody, Like the Classic It Portrays
Stylish, yes. Moody, yes. Great movie? Hmm. Reviewers have not been kind, and there’s a distinct lack of award season buzz. However, when your day calls for an escape into a richly painted portrait of an icon’s passions, triumphs, and challenges, Ferrari fits the bill.
It’s worth noting that Ferrari, while more about the man and his journey than racing, does include racing scenes, though those are not the point of this movie. Nor are the crash scenes, which this rated R movie includes, true to Michael Mann’s directorial style.
But getting a glimpse into the man behind the iconic prancing horse emblem and the legacy he left on the world of high-performance luxury cars is a delightful departure from the pace of the day. That we know how Ferrari’s story ends may diminish the suspense, but we are still excited to take the journey.
Have a thought or comment? Share it with us on social media! You can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. And be sure to sign up for our email newsletter! Additionally, A Girls Guide to Cars may earn a commission from affiliate links in this story.