"Senna" the movie makes it to the hinterlands...The Moviehouse and Lime Rock Park Join Forces to Bring “Senna” to Millerton, N.Y.

The most talked about, critically acclaimed racing movie in years, the documentary “Senna,” is coming to the Northwest Corner of Connecticut. Well, six miles away, anyway.

Thanks to the combined persuasive powers of Millerton, N.Y.’s The Moviehouse and Lime Rock Park, and as part of the numerous events surrounding Labor Day weekend’s vintage racing extravaganza at Lime Rock – Historic Festival 29 and the Sunday in the Park Concours – a special one-week run of “Senna” begins Friday, September 2.

“Senna,” which the Los Angeles Times says is,"...a documentary with the pace of a thriller, a story of motors and machines that is beyond compelling because of the intensely human story it tells," is in limited, major-markets only release. (Click here to see the trailer at IMDB.com)

But thanks to the efforts of Carol Sadlon, who with her husband Rob own and operate The Moviehouse, the distributor has agreed to bring the movie to Lime Rock Park fans.

IN ADDITION, an extra-special showing has been arranged: Lime Rock fans are being given the first opportunity to come to a 7:00 p.m., Saturday, September 3 show that will have Skip Barber, Sam Posey and Bob Sharp in attendance, introduced by the mayor of Millerton, the Honorable John Scutieri. Skip, Sam and Bob will then hold a post-movie Q&A.

For that showing, vintage cars will be on display in front of The Moviehouse and on the property directly across the street at Simmons Way Village Inn, Millerton’s historic Victorian retreat.

The cost for the special Saturday, September 3 show is $15, and includes a “Senna” poster, a soda and a popcorn – and of course the chance to meet Skip Barber, Sam Posey and Bob Sharp. Note that this special show will likely sell out quickly, so people are encouraged to not hesitate if they want to see this special-special “Senna” showing.

Click here to go directly to the ticketing page for the special Saturday, September 3, 7:00 p.m. showing.

Carol Sadlon said, "The Moviehouse is honored to Premiere this extraordinary film and to be part of the events surrounding Lime Rock Park's Historic Festival 29 on Labor Day weekend. We want to thank Senna's producers, distributor and Lime Rock Park for partnering with us to bring Senna to Millerton – a testament to the fact that Millerton is indeed one of the coolest small towns in America.”

What makes “Senna” so special is that it is one of the few “racing” movies – perhaps the first – that has extremely broad appeal. People, and critics, who wouldn’t know “F1” from a hole in the ground have found the movie fascinating, moving and emotionally off the charts. If you aren’t familiar with Ayrton Senna, “Senna” is the story of perhaps the greatest race-car driver who ever lived. In the mid ‘80s, Senna burst into the world of Formula One racing. He had to fight hard both on the track –against his nemesis, World Champion Alain Prost – and off, dealing with the politics of a sport that accounts for literally billions of dollars worldwide in sponsorship, rights fees, merchandise and prize money.

Take a look at some of the “Senna” reviews...

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Very good
"...a celebration of a singular spirit in an impure sport.... Mr. Senna speaks extensively and eloquently for himself, and reveals himself to be an eminently human hero." Click here for the full review, 8/12/11

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Very good
"The film is two things: a discreet hagiography of the handsome, soft-spoken Senna... and a compressed, esoteric slice of Formula One history during his 10-year ascendance." Click here for the full review, 08/12/11


Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: Very good
"Never heard of Ayrton Senna? Don't care about Formula One? This documentary's so exciting it won't matter... an unusually strong sports doc... It's pretty much accurate to describe Senna as the Pelé or Muhammad Ali of his sport, a personality who transcended his limited environment..." Click here for the full review, 8/11/11

Ian Buckwalter, NPR: Excellent
"...a narrative as neatly constructed as any fictional film.... expert editing of the disparate audio and video sources provide more illustration than straight interviews ever could..." Click here for the full review, 8/11/11

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Outstanding
"...a documentary with the pace of a thriller, a story of motors and machines that is beyond compelling because of the intensely human story it tells." Click here for the full review, 8/12/11


Biographical Notes:
Skip Barber is a former championship-winning driver (open-wheel and sports cars) who founded the Skip Barber Racing School and owns Lime Rock Park, the 55-year-old road racing track in Connecticut’s Northwest Corner (which is on the National Registry of Historic Places). Skip raced in Formula One in the early 1970s. He lives in Sharon, Conn.

Sam Posey is a former championship-winning driver, long associated with Lime Rock Park. He too drove in F1, as well as Indy cars, Trans-Am, F5000 and sports cars. He lives in Sharon, Conn., and is an architect and writer, as well as a SPEED TV motorsports commentator.

Bob Sharp is a former championship-winning driver who had many successes at Lime Rock Park. He’s from Westport, Conn., and besides his own racing successes as a driver, he was the team owner and manager behind much of the late Paul Newman’s multiple racing successes. He is the father of Scott Sharp, also a championship-winning driver.