Life on the Limit // Review

Where F1 is the subject of Life On The Limit, the documentary itself could feature in a future film called ‘Storytelling on the Limit’.

Formula one might not be for everybody, but I’m sure everyone knows something about it. Not so surprising, since the tragic accident of Michael Schumacher is still fresh in all our minds. The F1-season – which started in Australia on 16 March – will surely have a sombre feeling this time. It's a sad contrast to the dramatic renaissance the sport’s enjoying at the moment. Popular culture’s all about it lately with films such as ‘Senna’ and ‘Rush’, and a (second) gigantic Ferrari park is about to open its doors in Barcelona due to 2016.

But what about the history of the racing? It’s been a while since we’ve heard of that, hasn’t it? The fatal crash of Ayrton Senna back in 1994 might ring a bell. What do you mean ‘you forgot his name’? Perhaps it’s time to freshen up your memory, no? Get the hell out and go watch Life On The Limit, a documentary about the history of Formula one racing by Paul Cowder.

If you’re a someone like me who doesn’t know a bit about F1, apart from that it’s very noisy and dangerous, you might think this documentary is nothing for you. To be quite honest, I thought the same. Hell, I was wrong. This 2-hour film had me hooked to the screen. Not because I discovered a sudden love for the sport, but rather because the film is just so interesting, both in form and content.

Cowder starts his story with the sport as it was after the second World War. Fast, popular, but very dangerous. The racers didn’t seem to care about their lives while driving the cars, safety belts were for big whiners and the state of the tracks was abominable. The drivers piloting the vehicles that almost seem to fly over these tracks were heroes. If you’d ask a kid back in those days about what he would like to be later on, ‘F1 driver’ was the general answer, right next to ‘astronaut’.

However popular the sport was, it was also characterised by the risks. The masses seem to have opened their eyes after the death of Lorenzo Bandini during the Grand Prix di Monaco in 1967. Since then, safety has been a big issue in the sport’s world, and from the moment the documentary hits that point, you know where the story’s all about: safety whilst driving on the limit.

Cowder succeeded in giving the viewer a great overview of the sport’s history throughout some crucial points and names. Interviews with the son of legend James Hunt, fantastic and spectacular archive footage and a fantastic edit make this documentary definitely worth a view. Michael Fassbender takes the voice-over for his responsibility – which, to be honest, could’ve been better – while carefully chosen music gives you a historic reference throughout the history. Music from the hippie movement draped over footage from the 70, all contributing to what we love to see in a documentary: beautifully crafted and very involving storytelling.

If you’re not into Formula 1 racing, don’t get mad if your Ferrari-obsessed friend puts on the film. Just join in and watch the magic happen. Cowder did a fantastic job, with an even more fantastic film as result. A film for everyone, dedicated to those who lost their lives on the F1 tracks. Interesting, great to look at and very musical. Where F1 is the subject of Life On The Limit, the documentary itself could feature in a future film called ‘Storytelling on the Limit’. Not to be missed!

4/5 Yarreth