The trailer above is from the movie ‘Love The Beast’, written, directed and starring Eric Bana. It’s a documentary about his very own Beast, a 1974 Ford Falcon XB Coupe. The car has been in his life from the age of fifteen – and it was still going strong thanks to several rebuilds, until the events of the film take place (you’ll see when you watch it).
Throughout the film, various metaphors are used about the car being a ‘campfire’ which draws Bana and his school mates around it. Clearly, this 25 year labour of love means a great deal to them as the trials and tribulations of life take place, but the car remains a focal point. It’s an activity that they can all get around be themselves. As I think it was Bana’s dad said, it brings you back to your youth, and that’s actually something that’s priceless. No Ferrari, Lamborghini or even Veyron could do that – if you’re one of the younger readers, you may not understand this at the moment, but you will in time.
Numerous famous car fans are featured speaking to Bana throughout the documentary, which is also intercut with race footage and montage shots of the car (and others) in the Targa Tasmania Rally – an awesome road race against the clock including new and vintage metal.
Dr Phil (love him or hate him) offers up some very interesting advice on why the car is more than the sum of its parts. For Bana, it’s been to where he’s been in the last 25 years. It’s a part of his past, his present and even his future, provided he keeps it on the road.
Jeremy Clarkson offers up perhaps his most telling comment and explains the Top Gear lads’ love of Alfa Romeos in one go. He states that because the car has foibles, it has character. It’s this character that humanises it, allowing for a relationship and set of emotions to come into play.
A glimpse into the world of Jay Leno is also extremely revealing. His huge collection of vehicles and apparent love of everything two and four wheeled is a passion shared by myself and I must say that it great to hear that he never gets rid of anything. It was also interesting to hear him state that he knew what he was good at, and it wasn’t racing.
Love The Beast is a simple film, showing (rather than telling) one man’s passion for four wheeled speed and how a lifelong time spent with a single car has given him and his mates a shared goal in life. It’s about what makes us who we are in life. The look on the faces of the four friends after the crash in the Falcon really says it all. After driver and navigator are confirmed fine, they all look utterly dejected. Their Beast (and a part of them) is dead. So, will the Beast rise again? Only Bana likely knows the answer to that, though he did hint that it would on Top Gear…
So, would I recommend Love The Beast? As if you couldn’t tell from the review above – why yes of course! If you’re a passionate petrol head then it’s great to see a famous person with an extraordinary tale that isn’t about just some other supercar. If you’re not a car fan, perhaps this will help you gain an insight into the minds of your loved ones who are.
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