Weekend of a Champion (1972)

Weekend of a Champion (alternately titled Afternoon of a Champion) is a British 1972 documentary film that captures the effort of British Formula One racing driver Jackie Stewart to compete in the 1971 Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo. Stewart's friend Roman Polanski produced the film and shadows him throughout the weekend of the race.

The film premiered at the 1972 Berlin Film Festival and— after a small theatrical release in Europe— was unscreened for 40 years. The archive in possession of the negative contacted Polanski, inquiring as to whether they should keep the film or throw it away. Polanski restored the film from the original print, remixing and slightly recutting it. An approximately 15-minute epilogue was added, showing Polanski and Stewart reminiscing in present-day Monaco, having a conversation about their friendship, the evolution of racing safety, hairstyles, and life in general.

Synopsis

Le cinéaste Roman Polanski, passionné de sport automobile, s'est lié d'amitié avec le pilote automobile écossais Jackie Stewart, champion du monde de Formule 1 en 1969 et, en route pour son second titre. Il obtient l'autorisation de suivre le champion pendant un week-end de Grand Prix. Lors du Grand Prix de Monaco 1971, que Stewart va d'ailleurs remporter, la caméra du cinéaste se glisse dans l'intimité du champion alors au faîte de sa gloire, tant sur le circuit qu'en dehors, aux côtés de son épouse Helen.

Actors