What’s “Ferrari” About?

Set in the summer of 1957, with Enzo Ferrari’s (Adam Driver) auto empire in crisis, the ex-racer turned entrepreneur pushes himself and his drivers to the edge as they launch into the Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy.

The Family Dynamics of the Ferrari Family

Enzo & Laura Ferrari started as the typical happy Italian family: dated, courted, became engaged, and then decided to have a family. Laura gave birth to their son, Dino Ferrari, which was going to be the heir to the Ferrari legacy and fortune, but he fell ill at a young age due to muscular dystrophy and that is when the disconnect and the material discord began between Enzo and Laura. It breaks my heart to know that in real life some marriages and relationships where couples are not married but lose a child just cannot serve due to that traumatic loss no matter how much they try to rectify and salvage the relationship. How in the world could losing something that loves created rip apart the love that brought you together in the first place to create what you have lost and that was taken away from you? Anyone would think that would bring you closer together; to mourn that loss and celebrate your child’s life rather than focusing on blaming each other because you are hurting and need someone to blame. That is what happened here and this is a true story.  

Who Holds All The Ferrari Kingdom Keys?

Laura was a force to be reckoned with – that’s for certain! Penelope Cruz deserved a standing ovation for her portrayal of the wife in the film. I could feel her loss, her grief, the pain, and all the hurt and bitterness that she had been suffering for years due to Enzo’s infidelities. She was the “brains” of the business as you watch the film as it progresses onwards. I just wish that she did not always look so down, depressed, and worthless, but in real life when this occurred after the death of her son, that is how she was – she fell apart and all she wanted was her Dino. She wanted him back and she’d do anything to get him returned to her! Her child’s death released an inner- darkness in her that she never knew was inside of her while a piece of her goodness still shined through to help Enzo save their business.

Need An Ashtray?

Patrick Dempsey played the role of Italian race car Driver Piero Taruffi – and the very first line that came out of his mouth when he was introduced to us was iconic …at least to me. Enzo asked him what did he think of the car and Piero said to him that it doesn’t have an ashtray. Enzo then replied, “What are you a prima donna?” LOL!!!  This film does have some humorous scenes that highlight some of the moments where a bit of laughter is needed and Dempsey captures the screen in the movie.  I loved the fact that there was some humor within the film.

Closing Remarks

I can appreciate the child that Enzo had with his mistress Lina Lardi and their son wanting his last name because he would be the rightful heir to the Ferrari Kingdom, but place yourself in his wife’s place – their very own son died and to have his son with another woman be the heir to something that he and her created together and was teaching their son, Dino to be inherited over to him right in front of her eyes. Do you think that she was right to request him that she did at the close of the film? Or do you think she was also giving him permission as well as being hurt, but it was an unreasonable request made by her when you stop and think of it from her perspective?