The greatest documentaries tell intriguing stories and dive into the life or lives of the people or events it’s portraying. Whether the stories are widely known or coming to light right before you, the idea is to stir empathy and relate through passion. It’s no surprise, then, that laser-focused race car drivers and meticulous mechanics make perfect subjects for deep-diving films.
They’re true artists of their craft, blurring the lines of man and machine — not in the physical sense, but through the heart and soul they dedicate to their passion. And the greatest stories of people bringing that passion to life — whether by hammering out sheets of metal, building high-power engines, or tracing the perfect line around a race track — can inspire similar adrenaline-inducing emotions. Some of the documentaries on this list are long, some are short, a few stories see speeds in excess of 200 mph while others idle in a garage, but each tells the story of a motorized passion, perfectly.
Love the Beast
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKpX5phKTZE?rel=0&showinfo=0&rel=0&w=650&h=366]
Actor and racer Eric Bana turns the camera on himself, allowing us an introspective look into the life-long relationship the man has with his car and the friendships that have grown from it. Heavy-hitting gearheads like Jeremy Clarkson and Jay Leno weigh in; even Dr. Phil contributes an odd yet accurate analysis of Bana and his Ford Falcon XB.
Director: Eric Bana
Starring: Eric Bana, a ’73 Ford Falcon XB, Jeremy Clarkson, Jay Leno,
Premiered: 2009
