Race For Glory: Audi Vs. Lancia Movie Review

Race for Glory: Audi v/s Lancia is a biographical sports drama film directed by Stefano Mordini. Filippo Bologna, by Stefano Mordini, and Riccardo Scamarcio Riccardo Scamarcio was born on November 13, 1979, >> Read More... together scripted the film’s story. This film features  Daniel Brühl (Roland Gumpert), Riccardo Scamarcio (Cesare Fiorio), Volker Bruch (Walter Röhrl), Katie Clarkson-Hill (Jane McCoy), Esther Garrel (Michèle Mouton), Rebecca Busi (Fabrizia Pons), Haley Bennett Haley Bennett is a renowned American pop singer an >> Read More... (the journalist), and Axel Gallois (Ispettore Dupont). Andrea Venerus is the music director of the film. The producers of this film are Victor Hadida, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Jeremy Thomas Jeremy Jack Thomas is an English film producer. He >> Read More... . Luigi Martinucci is the cinematographer of this film.  Massimo Fiocchi, and Davide Minotti are the editors of this movie.           

Plot

The movie tries to recreate the intense rivalry that developed between the team Audi Sport GmbH with their car Audi Quattro and the team Lancia Abarth with their car Lancia Rally 037. With the German company had been the favourite choice, it was enthralling to watch this underdog episode from the past. The rivalry was also hailed as David vs. Goliath, the two managers of the competing teams respectively. Also, Lancia’s manager Cesare Fiorio finds himself up against the odds both on and away from the racetrack.  What were the challenges faced by both the companies? How did Lancia won against all odds? The film is an anecdote unfolding answers to these questions.

Star Performances

The casting of this film is near perfect. The actors looked the part, and most of the performances were fine. Though, a few times it feels as if the actors are having hard time delivering their dialogues in English, it can be ignored as English is their second language.  Scamarcio's performance as Fiorio is magnetic enough to carry the audience through to the end, carefully playing through a conflicting range of emotions as Fiorio orchestrates Lancia’s victory through sheer tenacity and luck. Volker Brauch’s portrayal of famed rally racer Walter Röhrl is one of the film’s highlights, especially when he expresses the inner conflict of the character. He is largely detached from the whole fame aspect of the Rally World Championship circuit, which forces Fiorio to really pursue him and lure him back onto the racetrack. Brühl did wonders with his limited screen time. The rest of the cast remarkably performed their parts.

Analysis

While nerve-racking races and gut-wrenching wrecks are the central element of racing films, Race for Glory, adding to it, embraces the human element. It's based on the true story of the contentious and well-documented rivalry between car making companies, Audi and Lancia at the 1983 Rally World Championship. However, the filmmakers have failed to make a cohesive story out of material that seems fairly simple to communicate.

The actual racing sequences are little more than pedestrian, when particularly compared to the spectacular pedal-to-the-metal action in “ Rush Click to look into! >> Read More... ”, “Ford v Ferrari”, and “Ferrari.” Meanwhile, the off-road stretches consist mostly of a frowning Fiori brainstorming with his team about ways to improve and rebuild their race cars, observing the progress at rallies across the world, and wooing ace driver Walter Röhrl into driving for the company. It’s a little annoying that the film hardly explores the depth of Röhrl’s character after teasing viewers with his complexities. Jane McCoy, a nutritionist who just happens to be the daughter of a driver killed in a crash two decades earlier is another supporting character that deserved better. Surprisingly, the narrative of the story deftly avoided one cliché by showing that McCoy and Fiori maintain a respectful and purely professional relationship, without any romantic feeling igniting between them. Without a doubt, sound is the best part of the film, whether capturing the booster’s thrust or the nerve-racking “zoop” sound when a race car passes by. The same can be said of just about anything audio-related in Race for Glory, music choices included. However, the blurry action shots, and an overuse of point-of-view and face zooming throughout the racing sequences reduces the emotional appeal of the sequences. The vast majority of the interactions are filled with dreary dialogue which does very little to excite the audience. Race for Glory is entertaining in spurts but lacks a sense of competition or intrigue. The cutting between an interview with Cesare Fiorio and the events themselves does break up the story overall but also removes from the little action that is shown on screen. This is an underdog story with heart and, excuse the pun, drive, a decent cast and, when on screen, exhilarating action scenes. Unfortunately, there isn't anything else of note to focus on.

What’s There?

• The performances by the stellar star cast help give this racing film an emotional core.
• The film captures the drama that can play out both on and off the track in the world of racing.
• The sound and music of the film is impressive.

What’s Not There?

• Gumpert's relationship with his wife running into problems doesn't feel earned.
• Lack of Character development is a major flaw of this film.
• Inefficient camera work reduces the Interest of viewers.

Verdict

"Race for Glory: Audi vs. Lancia" opted for a more mellow atmosphere when compared to the other films falling under the same genre. Inspired by the 1983 World Rally Championship rivalry between Audi and Lancia, this film features dedicated performances and intriguing insights, but even after having such resources it fails to execute it efficiently, and struggles to fully engage viewers.