TV Criticism
A successful film: In the documentary “Schumacher”, which is now running on Netflix, the statements made by the family are particularly moving. But the creators also manage to draw an exciting life portrait of the Formula 1 legend in other ways.
The film is said to be a gift from the family to the father and husband, whose accident on December 29, 2013 left a huge void. In the family, among friends and in motorsport. Michael Schumacher had an accident that day while skiing in the French Alps. He fell off-piste at high speed and hit his head on a rock. Despite wearing a helmet, he suffered severe head injuries – and has since lived in isolation and under the care of the family on the estate in Gland on Lake Geneva. It is not known in what condition the now 52-year-old is exactly. The family does not reveal any details about the state of health in the documentary, which has been on Netflix since September 15.
The documentary does not aim to satisfy curiosity, but rather to show the person and racing driver Michael Schumacher in all his facets – and it succeeds in hauntingly, even with private recordings that are being shown for the first time. The statements made by the family towards the end of the film are particularly moving, giving an impression of how they are trying to come to terms with fate. “Everyone misses Michael there. But Michael is there, like that. Different, but he is there. And that gives us all strength, I think,” says wife Corinna with tears in her eyes. Daughter Gina raves about her father, who devoted himself entirely to the children in his free time: “That was always the highlight when he came back. It was so nice because he always went through everything, and that for hours.”
Mick Schumacher is deeply moved
How big the hole is that Schumacher has left is made particularly clear by son Mick, who has been driving in Formula 1 himself since this season. “Then of course it is the case that after the accident, these experiences, these … I think moments that many experience with their parents are not there. Or there are fewer. I think that is a bit unfair.” . It is the longing for a father he lost at the age of 14. “I believe that Papa and I would understand each other in a different way now”. Schumacher junior has just risen to the premier class of motorsport and would love to talk to his father about it. “I would give up everything just for that”. It is the strongest moment in the documentary when Mick Schumacher says this sentence.
As in these very personal scenes, the makers manage to maintain an appropriate balance throughout the film. They tell the extraordinary career of a man without being too pathetic, glorifying or too cheesy. There is Schumacher’s absolute ambition, the charisma, the leadership qualities, the driving talent. When Schumacher made his Formula 1 debut as a substitute driver for Jordan in 1991, it was immediately clear to everyone that an extraordinary career was on the horizon. What sets Michael Schumacher apart from other drivers is the fact that “he can make full use of his talent,” says Ross Brawn, his team principal at Benetton and Ferrari, with whom he won all seven world titles.
From a sporting point of view, the statements made by the previous competitor or his teammate Eddy Irvine are the most exciting. There is a lot of respect and admiration, but also amazement at a brutal ambition that overshoots the mark several times.
Mika Häkkinen: Schumacher wasn’t afraid
“His approach to winning was not to be afraid. He didn’t think about how I or anyone else might get hurt,” said Mika Häkkinen. The Finn is Schumacher’s strongest competitor at the end of the 90s and beats him twice in a row in a World Cup duel. After a race with fierce duels, Häkkinen is mad at Schumacher and wants to speak to the rival. “You can’t do that. If we’re at 300 and I’m coming from behind and I’m so much faster than you, then you can’t just block me.” Schumacher just shrugged his shoulders and said: “Mika, we drive car races”.
Later, after announcing his departure from Formula 1, Schumacher was bored. He lacks the challenge. He goes skydiving (“But he doesn’t jump once, but 24 times”), but he misses Formula 1 and is celebrating a comeback at Mercedes. 2012 will be over for good. He had an accident a year later.
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
