A Life of Speed: The Juan Manuel Fangio Story

Juan Manuel Fangio began as a mechanic in a small Argentine town and won five world championships in the early years of Formula One. He took them with four different teams, a record that still stands. In his racing years there were effectively no seatbelts, no helmet standards and no track safety; most of his rivals died on the circuit. Francisco Macri's documentary tells his career through archive footage and assessments from present-day drivers. Fernando Alonso, Alain Prost, Jackie Stewart and Mika Häkkinen are among those who speak. The most interesting passage is about what racing meant at the time: the talk is not about speed but about the survival rate. Fangio's life outside Argentina and his kidnapping in Cuba in 1958 also feature. Who it's for: Anyone interested in the history of Formula One, sports documentary, and archive-based biography. Who it's not for: The narrative is admiring and keeps no critical distance. The political background of the period is passed over lightly.