Mercedes Benz: Return to Chapman’s Peak

Not many people would trust an autonomous car to drive them from A to B, let alone along a winding sea-facing cliff. Especially not one they'd toppled off 30 years previously... But then again, Christopher White is pretty exceptional.

Network BBDO's epic documentary-inspired short for Mercedes-Benz chronicles the real life story of White, who survived a ridiculous fall off Chapman's Peak cliff edge in South Africa in his Merc 30 years ago.

The brand then made a film about his story in 1990, below, earning South Africa its first Cannes Gold Film Lion.  

30 years later and the creative team decided to challenge White to venture down that same road, only this time entrusting his driving to the Mercedes Benz's autonomous S-Class vehicle. Although he was a bit shaky to begin with, White agreed to the challenge and was astounded by the journey. 

Helmed by Lourens Van Rensburg, the short fabulously catches White's initials nerves, weaving in footage from the former ad alongside snippets of the country road.