The early years of Gilles Villeneuve.

At fifteen, Gilles Villeneuve (Rémi Goulet) is not like other teenagers. In his small hometown of Berthierville, Canada, he dreams big and looks far beyond the horizon. Initially drawn to the trumpet, Villeneuve enters snowmobile racing and, on the punishing courses of this new sport, discovers a natural talent behind the wheel. He gains the confidence to leave his job as a mechanic and pursue a career in automobile racing. Soon, Gilles decides to risk it all to make his mark in the highly selective world of motor racing.

In his too-short life, Villeneuve achieved a dizzying roster of triumphs: six wins, two pole positions, eight fastest laps, and 13 podiums in Formula One. “Villeneuve: Rise of a Champion” shows us what he overcame to get there, through a fusion of rare talent, extreme discipline, the support of his loved ones, and a devil-may-care attitude that left others in the dust.

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.