Set in the summer of 1957, with Enzo Ferrari’s auto empire in crisis, the ex-racer turned entrepreneur pushes himself and his drivers to the edge as they launch into the Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy. A film by Michael Mann, starring Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley.

Ex-racer Enzo Ferrari and his wife Laura started Auto Costruzioni Ferrari in the ruins of post-war Italy in 1947.

In 1957, Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) left Castelvetro, where he has been staying with his mistress Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley) and their son Piero (Giuseppe Festinese), and drives back to his home in Modena. When the phone rings, Laura (Penélope Cruz) hesitates for a moment before picking it up. The man on the other end of the landline tells her to inform Enzo Ferrari that the Maserati driver, Jean Behra, had just arrived from Milan.

Knowing that Maserati intends to use Jean Behra (Derek Hill) to break Ferrari’s record, Ferrari calls Eugenio Castellotti (Marino Franchitti) and asks him to come to Modena Autodrome. Ferrari and Laura are still in grief for losing Dino, their first and only son, a year earlier at the age of 26. Ferrari regularly visits Dino’s grave to talk about his dreams and how much he misses his son.

At the Modena Autodrome, as Castellotti tests a new Ferrari Grand Prix car for the 1957 season, Alfonso de Portago (Gabriel Leone) approaches Ferrari. He introduces himself and expresses his desire to race for Ferrari, but Ferrari declines, saying he isn’t looking for new drivers. In a split second, Castellotti hit a high kerb at the chicane, sending him flying from the car. He is killed instantly, another young talent lost at the age of 26.

Make no mistake, all of us are racers— or have been. We all are certain, “It will never happen to me.” Then my friend is killed. I give up racing forever on Monday. I’m back racing by Sunday. We all know it’s our deadly passion. Our terrible joy.

Jaguar races only to sell cars. I sell cars only to be racing. We are completely different organisms.

A longtime friend and manager of Ferrari, Giacomo Cuoghi (Giuseppe Bonifati), informs Ferrari that the company is facing financial problems. As of last year, the company only produced 98 cars. Cuoghi suggests that Ferrari needs a partner like Fiat or Ford. In order to survive, the company must increase production to 400 customer cars a year. Ferrari’s only hope to attract outside finance is to win Mille Miglia.

Survive, or you are no organism. Maserati will try to prove themselves at the Mille Miglia. Everyone’s eye will be on it. Only one team will win. Make sure it’s you.

Michael Mann’s biographical film, “FERRARI,” delves into the personal and professional struggles of the iconic Italian founder of the Ferrari S.p.A. car manufacturer. Based on American journalist Brock Yates’s 1991 biography book “Enzo Ferrari,” the film explores the complex character and driving force behind the legendary brand. The film takes viewers on a journey through Enzo Ferrari’s life, from a glimpse of his early days as a race car driver to his rise as a successful entrepreneur. It portrays his passion for speed, his relentless pursuit of excellence, and his unwavering determination to build the fastest cars in the world.

Penélope Cruz delivers a powerful performance as Laura Ferrari, a crucial figure often overshadowed in Enzo Ferrari’s well-documented life. While details about the real Laura remain elusive, Cruz’s portrayal adds emotional depth and understanding to the film’s narrative. Her character sheds light on the personal struggles and triumphs that shaped Enzo Ferrari, both as a man and as the iconic founder of his namesake automotive empire.

Enzo, stop it. What good are you doing yourself? Mm, “I’m a scapegoat, I’m a martyr.” Who are you? Who have you become? St. Sebastian? You stand there and let them shoot arrows in your ass? Go beat the hell out of them. The writers. Those cheap hacks. Threaten them. Extort them. And those still on their feet, the most sanctimonious and hypocritical, those, you give them brown envelopes.

The film boasts spectacularly shot race scenes that immerse you in the raw power and exhilarating speed of the roaring engines.

The most unforgettable sequence, however, is a chilling recreation of a tragic moment etched in racing history. As the Ferrari 335 S tears through the Italian countryside during the Mille Miglia, a tire bursts near the village of Guidizzolo. The horrific crash claims the lives of driver Alfonso de Portago, his American navigator Edmund Gunner Nelson (Erik Haugen), and nine innocent spectators, leaving a lasting mark on both the race and the world of motorsports.

FERRARI premiered at La Biennale di Venezia on 31 August 2023. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 25 December.