My exposure to the world of motor sports started with Pole Position—an arcade game I dumped quarters into at my local Griff’s Burgers as a kid. My understating of the sport hasn’t evolved much since. Despite, or perhaps because of, my extreme ignorance of Formula 1 racing, I was captivated by Senna. 

Senna is a documentary about legendary Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna, considered by many to be the greatest driver of all time. I went into Senna feeling skeptical, thinking a documentary about an icon from a sport I had little interest in or knowledge of seemed like a dull way to spend a sunny Saturday morning: I was wrong. 

Director Asif Kapadia says his background is in drama and it shows. A blazing fast film constructed entirely of archival footage—no talking heads or hand-holding narration to be found--Senna follows Senna from his beginnings in cart racing through a drama-filled series of world championships in Formula 1. A more likable hero is hard to find than the humble and charming Senna, and as we experience the highs and lows of his decade long career, it’s easy to see why he is still so admired in the racing world. Senna is an adrenaline-packed, edge-of-your seat race from start to finish filled with moments of ecstatic inspiration and crushing heartbreak. Kapadia captures the infuriating politics behind the sport and expertly crafts villains out of Senna’s opponents.

Senna, which may sadly never get a proper theatrical distribution in the U.S., will be shown again at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday, March 17 at 7:15 p.m.