Compelling films about car races are rarities for good reasons: The action is a blur, the circuits are spread out over great distances, helmeted drivers are nestled into cockpits and access to the teams that make these high-performance machines go can be hard to get.
All of which makes Truth in 24 a remarkable achievement. The full-feature documentary by NFL Films, co-produced by Chicago-based sports programmer Intersport, gives audiences unprecedented access to the human drama leading up to the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most grueling race which once captivated the likes of Steve McQueen and Paul Newman. After winning awards on the 2008-2009 film festival circuit, Truth in 24 will make its nationwide premiere on ESPN and ESPN HD at 8 p.m. EDT this coming Friday, March 20.
“As you might guess, Truth in 24 isn’t the kind of project NFL Films normally pursues, but every now and then something comes along that piques our interest,” said Keith Cossrow, the NFL Films director behind Truth in 24. “The chance to tell a story about one of the most dominant racing teams in history – and one of the greatest sporting events in the world was one we could not pass up.
“Our team dove headlong into a world we barely knew. We followed Audi Sport from Florida to California, from Italy to Germany, and spent nearly three weeks with them in France. We shot 4 races and over 150 hours of film and HD. We went from a novice crew of three at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March to a fully immersed crew of 30 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. It was an intense, risky, grueling experience, and in the end an incredibly rewarding one. A lot like the 24 Hours of Le Mans, I guess, minus the driving 200 miles an hour in pitch black pouring rain at 3 o’clock in the morning.”
Never before had the Emmy-winning filmmakers at NFL Films attempted to produce a racing film. But in weaving signature NFL Films storytelling, 7-channel surround sound, vivid cinematography and a gripping narration by Hollywood action star Jason Statham, the directors produced what’s already being called one of the greatest racing films, maybe one of the greatest sports documentaries, of all time.