Revving Up the Excitement: Michael Mann Puts Modena in the Fast Lane with Racing Drama Ferrari
Experience the captivating allure of Italian motorsport in the heart of Emilia-Romagna In the riveting racing drama 'Ferrari,' acclaimed director Michael Mann alongside Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz bring Modena to life, igniting a poetic journey that will leave you breathless
Modena, Italy, shares the spotlight with its stars in the latest film "Ferrari" by director Michael Mann. The biopic, starring Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz, depicts the life of Enzo Ferrari, founder of the car manufacturer, amidst the backdrop of the 1957 Mille Miglia race in Italy. Family drama and racing events intertwine as Enzo and Laura grieve the loss of their son, while Enzo grapples with the complexities of his personal life. Premiering at the Venice Film Festival in August, Mann's film is set to hit theaters during the Christmas season, with hopes of Oscar recognition.
The American driver and the Spanish mechanic enthusiastically embraced the Italian lifestyle, but Mann was adamant that there was no better location than Modena, in the heart of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region. This small city played an integral role in the Ferrari story, as it was where Enzo was born and established his first workshop. As Ferrari expanded into the nearby town of Maranello, Modena remained at the heart of Italian motorsport, with Maserati also calling it home. Despite his cars racing around the world, Enzo remained loyal to Modena, so it was only fitting that Mann chose to establish the production of "Ferrari" there.
Mann, at the age of 80, has established his own profound ties with Ferrari. The director, born in Chicago and known for "Heat" and "The Last of the Mohicans," had been contemplating a film about the founder for many years, and has considered Piero Ferrari, the current vice chair of the company, a friend for decades (the young Piero plays an important role in the movie).
A scene in "Ferrari" filmed in Piazza Grande in the heart of Modena. The production shot on location for months during 2022.
Lorenzo Sisti/NEON
The production spent six months in Modena in 2022. "It's a very small city, so we became well-known," Mann told CNN. "When I would go shopping at Mercado Benelli - an open market built in 1865 - I was known as Mrs. Mann's husband. People were very respectful."
Thankfully, Modena, like many places in Emilia-Romagna, has maintained much of its appearance since 1957. The city's cathedral still stands tall, the baroque Ducal Palace looms large, and many streets are still covered in cobblestones. (An exception is the Museo Enzo Ferrari Modena, a modern pavilion and renovated spaces, including Enzo's childhood home, which opened in 2012 - understandably, it doesn't feature in the movie.)
Piazza Grande features the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Modena Cathedral, built in the 11th Century in the Romanesque style.
The town of Modena is home to many dedicated Ferrari employees and enthusiasts, creating a strong sense of belonging and a deep connection to the sport of motor racing. Many have worked at the factory for multiple generations, truly making Ferrari the beloved home team in the area.
"When you're there, it becomes unmistakably clear what Ferrari signifies, not just for the country, but for that specific place," Driver told CNN. "There's a local element and attitude to Modena that I believe wouldn't have been captured if we had filmed elsewhere."
"Our set was filled with the town," he added. "Most people had left during August when we were shooting, but we would have someone starting catering one minute, and two weeks later they were in the picture."
"Ferrari" features scenes in Modena as well as Maranello, a town south of Modena where Ferrari built its significant manufacturing hub.
The production brought on board former Ferrari Formula One chief mechanics who worked with Michael Schumacher and Niki Lauda for minor roles in the film, according to Mann. In addition, they obtained engine blocks from the Ferrari Classiche restoration department. The barbershop that Enzo frequented daily is also featured in the movie, with its second-generation owner portraying his father and shaving Driver.
Mann expressed, "It was incredibly authentic in a delightful way. You really grasp the sharp wit and tough-minded attitude, reminiscent of my hometown of inner-city Chicago."
With this in mind, did filming on location assist Driver in embodying the character? And did the Modenese, known for their outspokenness, share their opinions on Enzo? "Absolutely," the actor promptly responds.
Cruz found Modena to be unsettling, particularly in her portrayal of Laura, the wife of Ferrari and his equal in the company. After the loss of their son to muscular dystrophy, Laura discovers her husband's infidelity and works to protect her assets as the business faces financial trouble.
"I didn't have much to go on about her," Cruz shared. "I spent time in Modena with Michael and Adam, who showed me the places where she used to go. People's reactions to her weren't favorable - they wanted to dismiss her as difficult or a witch."
"Nobody talked about the pain that this woman went through, losing a child out of an illness when he was 20," she added.
{{img_placeholder_3}}
Adam Driver as Enzo Ferrari in "Ferrari." The film sees the man dubbed "Il Commendatore" courting the press, who can at times be vicious in return.
Lorenzo Sisti/NEON
{{img_placeholder_4}}
Laura Ferrari, Enzo's wife, played by Penelope Cruz, in a scene set in Modena.
Lorenzo Sisti/NEON
In the movie, Laura is portrayed as a powerful and determined character. Cruz effectively portrays her grief, with some scenes filmed in the Ferrari family mausoleum (where Enzo is also currently buried). "Ferrari" delves deep into Laura and Enzo's intricate and long-lasting relationship. The director mentioned that he and Cruz met with Laura's doctor, who shared previously unseen love letters written by Enzo to his estranged wife up to two years before her passing in 1978.
Following her passing, Enzo passed his name down to his son Piero, whom he had fathered with Lina Lardi, portrayed by Shailene Woodley. Woodley spoke with Piero, now in his late 70s, about his mother. "The most moving thing for me wasn't actually the stories he told or his accounts of her, but the way he became emotional," she shared.
"The fact that his mother was so protective and able to keep him grounded, despite the potential chaos of his childhood, was truly remarkable," she remarked.
{{img_placeholder_5}}
Enzo Ferrari and driver Peter Collins at the start of the 1957 Mille Miglia in Brescia in the Lombardy region of Italy.
Bernard Cahier/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
{{img_placeholder_6}}
Adam Driver as Enzo in Brescia in a recreation of the same event in "Ferrari."
NEON
Mann's research was so thorough that he even obtained knowledge from Lardis's niece about her aunt's food preparation methods, which he had Woodley recreate on camera.
"We were deeply immersed in everything," he explained. "There's such authenticity that a kind of marvelous organic absorption occurs... You really start to believe, I'm there, it's 1957, and I'm in this world."
This spontaneity and performance is what resonates with audiences. They truly believe in the authenticity of the experience, allowing them to become fully immersed - this is the ultimate goal for me.
In the film, Enzo imparts wisdom to his son, stating, "When something functions better, it naturally becomes more visually appealing." While referring to his cars, this sentiment could also apply to Mann's films. Meticulously engineered, they exude effortless elegance while concealing the hard work behind the scenes.
Modena was Enzos inspiration, as so it has proved for the director. "Theres poetry in the drinking water," said Mann. "I cant really explain it."
