Part documentary, part pulp action film, all love and pure passion: “Moto Borgatoro” follows curmudgeon/savant mechanic Peter Boggia and the birth of his custom 1979 Moto Guzzi Le Mans into creation.

Peter Boggia is a master mechanic that specializes in rare racing bikes from the golden age of motorcycles. From his casually opulent, brick lined shop deep in Redhook, Brooklyn, Peter works on some of the most expensive and extraordinary machines on the planet. He also hates cameras, motorcycle films, and social media in general. So after years of haranguing him, somehow he permitted his friend, filmmaker Roberto Serrini, to shoot him in his shop. He gave him just one day, reluctantly, to document his latest work and magnum opus, his 1979 Moto Guzzi Le Mans.

Roberto realized for this film to ever see the light of day it had to be the opposite of every bike build film out there. Part documentary, part pulp action film, there are no grinder sparks, no silhouette shots, no played out tropes that Peter violently abhors. Serrini used multiple formats like super 16, BMCC and even VHF to give it an inspired look, with a subversive soundtrack that echoed pop culture of its time. The goal was to capture the feel of not just creating a machine to minimalist perfection, but of the spirited era in which this bike comes from, one that had redefined motorcycles and changed them for future generations irreversibly.

For a first film, it did pretty well. It’s won dozens of film festivals including being named one of Jelopniks automotive film of the year. It’s had dozens of write ups, and the film is one of the best known in the motorcycling world. Roberto finds this all very humorous, considering it’s subject wanted nothing less then being well known.