The ‘Unresolved’ Tensions at the End of 'Ferrari'

To those of us who are not racing-history aficionados, and to whom the catastrophic events of the 1957 Mille Miglia are not well known, the ostensible climax of Michael Mann’s Ferrari might come as quite a shock. Not just because of the carnage in full display onscreen, but because of the subtle ways the picture has maneuvered our expectations up until this point. Throughout the film, Mann has set up this upcoming cross-country race (“A thousand miles across bad roads with sheep and dogs — anything can happen,” as Penélope Cruz’s Laura Ferrari memorably puts it) as a make-or-break moment for Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver). The automaker’s business is about to collapse under heavy debt and a recent string of failures. “Win the Mille Miglia, Enzo. Attract outside financing. Or you are out of business,” warns his lawyer and consigliere, Giacomo Cuoghi (Giuseppe Bonifati). We know, of course, that Ferrari the brand survived, so we feel confident that Enzo’s team will emerge triumphant from the race.