Ford v. Ferrari, also known as Le Mans '66 in some countries, is a 2019 biographical sports drama film directed by James Mangold. The movie tells the story of American car designer and former race driver Carroll Shelby, played by Matt Damon, and the talented British race driver Ken Miles, played by Christian Bale, who team up to build a race car for Ford Motor Company to challenge the dominance of Ferrari at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans race in France in 1966.
The movie takes place in the mid-1960s, when the Ford Motor Company was struggling to improve its image and sales in the U.S. market. Henry Ford II, played by Tracy Letts, decides to invest in building a new race car to compete with Ferrari, which had won the previous five editions of the Le Mans race.
Ford hires Shelby to lead the project, and he in turn recruits Miles to test and develop the car. The two men quickly clash due to their strong personalities and different approaches to racing, but eventually form a close bond over their shared passion for speed and excellence.
The movie portrays the intense pressure and challenges faced by the team in getting the car ready for the race, including dealing with corporate interference, bureaucratic red tape, and the laws of physics. Despite the odds stacked against them, Shelby and Miles manage to design and build a revolutionary race car, the Ford GT40, that is fast, reliable, and suited to the grueling demands of the 24-hour race.
The movie culminates in the climactic battle between the Ford and Ferrari teams at Le Mans, as Miles races against the best drivers in the world to secure a historic victory for Ford. However, the triumph is bittersweet, as Miles is robbed of the chance to be the first to cross the finish line due to a controversial corporate decision. The movie ends with a moving tribute to Miles' legacy as a true racing hero.
Overall, Ford v. Ferrari is a thrilling and dramatic re-telling of one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history. It combines high-speed racing scenes with compelling character development, as well as thought-provoking themes about the limits of engineering and the personal sacrifices required to achieve success.
