Formula One fans watch the movie Speed Racer on the Abu Dhabi Corniche during the Cinema by the Sea event last year.
Formula One fans watch the movie Speed Racer on the Abu Dhabi Corniche during the Cinema by the Sea event last year.

Acclaimed Senna film leads pack of Grand Prix cinema entertainment



ABU DHABI // The award-winning documentary Senna on the F1 legend will be shown as part of celebrations for this year's Grand Prix.

The feature-length film about Ayrton Senna will screen for free at Yasalam's Cinema by the Sea on November 3.

Mohammed Al Junaibi, the head of a Mercedes F1 GP fan club, said he had seen the film but would watch it again on the Corniche.

"It's finally a great opportunity for the fans and non-F1 audiences to learn more about the legend and his explosive attitude to life," he said.

Phill Tromans, the deputy editor of EVO Middle East magazine, has also seen the documentary and said it would be great for the public.

"It's very powerful on the big screen and it's rare to see F1 on the big screen anyway. I hope people get out there and make the effort to see it," he said.

Senna has won audience awards at the Sundance, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Adelaide film festivals.

Senna won three Formula One world championships and raced for McLaren from 1988 to 1993. The Brazilian died when his car crashed into a concrete wall at 217kph as he was leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix in Imola, Italy.

Gulf Film, the local distributor for Universal Pictures, had said this year that it was not going to release the film in UAE cinemas, to the dismay of F1 fans across the country.

The documentary will be one of nine films screening during Yasalam, the month-long entertainment programme for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The race weekend runs from November 11 to 13.

On October 31, Transformers 2 and Back to the Future will be screened and on November 1, The Blues Brothers and Taxi will be shown. Cars 2 and Cannonball Run will feature on November 2.

Tron: Legacy starts at 7.30pm on November 3, followed by Senna at 10pm. The final night will feature Tropfest Arabia, the world's largest short-film festival on November 4.

Sun jukebox

Rufus Thomas, Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog) (1953)

This rip-off of Leiber/Stoller’s early rock stomper brought a lawsuit against Phillips and necessitated Presley’s premature sale to RCA.

Elvis Presley, Mystery Train (1955)

The B-side of Presley’s final single for Sun bops with a drummer-less groove.

Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, Folsom Prison Blues (1955)

Originally recorded for Sun, Cash’s signature tune was performed for inmates of the titular prison 13 years later.

Carl Perkins, Blue Suede Shoes (1956)

Within a month of Sun’s February release Elvis had his version out on RCA.

Roy Orbison, Ooby Dooby (1956)

An essential piece of irreverent juvenilia from Orbison.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Great Balls of Fire (1957)

Lee’s trademark anthem is one of the era’s best-remembered – and best-selling – songs.


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