Michael Schumacher's wife and father to make rare appearance in documentary on F1 legend to be unveiled at Cannes
Michael Schumacher's wife and father will appear in front of the cameras for the first time since the F1 legend's dangerous ski accident in a new documentary about his life. The film, simply titled 'Schumacher', is backed by the F1 legend's family and is expected to hit theatres in Germany and Switzerland in December this year.
Schumacher's wife Corinna, who has rarely spoken in public and is believed to be responsible for guarding the secrecy of Schumacher's health, is also expected to be one of the interviewees in the documentary. Although the racing legend's 73-year-old father Rolf is also making an appearance in the film, Schumacher himself will not be a part of it.
According to the Daily Mail, a trailer for the movie will be shown at the Cannes film festival which begins this week. Hamburg production house B14 Film, which is making the film, claims that the documentary is being made to mark Schumacher's 50th birthday, which passed in January, as well as to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his first world title win in 1994.
According to the documentary makers, Michael Wech and Hanns-Bruno Kammertöns, the film will feature never-before-seen archive footage belonging to the Schumacher family. It will tell the story of the star, from his boyhood days as a hobby go-karter in Kerpen near Cologne to his journey to secure seven Formula One titles. It will also document the near-fatal skiing accident in 2013 that left him with devastating head injuries from which he is still recovering.
"The film portrays not just an incomparable career, but also the many facets of a complex man," the producers said. They further explained that the film will show him as a "remorseless and daring Formula 1 driver, the ambitious sportsman, the accomplished mechanic with a unique technical flair, the reliable team player and the loving family man."
Speaking about the upcoming documentary, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said: "Michael's outstanding career merits a celebration 25 years after the first of his seven world titles. We are very happy that this film is in such sensitive and ambitious hands."
Benjamin Seikel of B14 Film said: "We're very happy about the trust that Michael Schumacher's family and management have shown us. Without their support, this film would not have been possible. It's time for this film. But of course, we're very aware of the responsibility that comes with it."
The Formula 1 champion's health status has been kept as a closely guarded secret by his 50-year-old wife ever since he fell and hit his head while skiing on the French Alps more than five years ago.
According to reports, the racer has not been seen in public since the accident in December 2013.
It was previously reported that Schumacher had been spending time at his family’s luxury £26 million (approx $35 million) villa in Majorca, Spain, according to his neighbors in the area. Schumacher's neighbors informed that the 50-year-old had been spotted at the luxury Spanish villa this year, as he arrived by a dark blue helicopter at the beautiful Port d’Andratx on the Spanish island.