Eight years after 2015’s Blackhat, Michael Mann returns to the director’s seat with a film based on the life of Enzo Ferrari, founder of the legendary car manufacturer that shares his name. For roughly 20 years, Mann had explored the idea of doing a film about the life of Enzo Ferrari with the project going through several permutations and casts before finally arriving in 2023 with Adam Driver in the titular role.
Camera Operator had the opportunity to talk with A camera and Steadicam operator Roberto De Angelis about what it was like working on this film. Whether it’s the spectacle of fast cars and violent crashes or the intimate personal drama of three people navigating a messy affair, De Angelis notes that above all, Mann’s edict for the film was one of finding the truth in these moments.
During the summer of 1957, in the lead-up to what would become the last-ever Mille Miglia race, several long-brewing conflicts in Enzo Ferrari’s life boil over into crises all at the same time: he is facing potential financial ruination for his company, the exposure of a long-term affair and a second son, and the recent death of one of his drivers on the track. Ferrari is directed by Michael Mann from a screenplay by Troy Kennedy Martin and stars Adam Driver, Penélope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley.
