Claude Lelouch’s short film ‘Le Grand Rendez-vous’ was premiered yesterday on The Official Ferrari Magazine website. The film marks the start of return to normalcy in Monaco where one of F1’s most iconic Grands Prix races takes place. The film tells the tale of an unusual rendezvous that this year replaced one of motorsport’s favourite annual events, due to the lockdown.
Watch the film using this link
The SF90 Stradale steals the show on a circuit that, until this year, had hosted 65 consecutive editions of the Monaco Grands Prix. The road-going Ferrari captures grand prix emotions, thanks to the power and performance derived from the twin-turbo charged V8 and the first hybrid propulsion system in a series production Ferrari in the marque’s history.
At the SF90 Stradale’s wheel is Charles Leclerc who powered it to over 240kmph on the streets of his hometown Monte Carlo with HSH Prince Albert as his first passenger followed by the young florist appearing at the beginning and end of the film, who is none other than Rebecca Blanc-Lelouch, granddaughter to the 1976 couple from the original film.
Watch and read about the original film here
The shoot took place in the early morning of May 24, the very day that the Monaco Grand Prix was to take place. The principality’s streets were closed to traffic for the occasion but the event was followed by many curious Monegasque residents just beginning to come out of lockdown. The film crew used a variety of different cameras, as opposed to the single bumper mounted gyroscopic camera in the 1976 film, to capture the Ferrari’s performance. A team of six engineers and technicians from Maranello provided back up and advice.
The original film ‘C'était un Rendez-Vous’, was shot by Lelouch on the streets of Paris in 1976 and was widely appreciated for its unique nature and also criticised for flouting many rules. Aside from a focus on speed and the instantly recognisable soundtrack of the Ferrari V8, the film also captures the beauty of Monte Carlo’s streets.