The Benefactor

筋書き

The project of mini-series (8 episodes), sports drama "BENEFACTOR" (development period)

LOGLINE
During the Cold War era, the USA-USSR boxing duels appeared to be a non-political outlet. But was it really the case?
In the backdrop of the Cold War, a reluctant miner's son is thrust into the world of boxing, becoming a celebrated multiple-time world champion among amateur boxers. As political forces shape his destiny, his dreams of Olympic glory are shattered by interference. Amidst the turmoil, a forbidden love affair with an American girl emerges, only to be thwarted by the relentless grip of the KGB. When an opportunity to face boxing legend Mike Tyson arises, he is propelled into a downward spiral, finding himself destitute on the streets of the '90s, a victim of vengeful officials.

Showrunner, screenwriter - Victoria Trofimenko

SYNOPSIS
In the Cold War era, sports seemed to offer a non-political escape.
USA-USSR boxing duels took place every year, regardless of circumstances like Olympic game boycotts due to the Afghan war. However, this notion was merely an illusion, as the lives of athletes in both the USSR and the USA were insignificant pawns in political games.

The mini-series "Benefactor" tells the story of a shattered life that had the potential for happiness. The protagonist, a miner's son, unwillingly becomes a boxer. Nevertheless, he rises to become a legendary boxer, glorifying the USSR on the global boxing stage in the 80s as a multiple world champion among amateur boxers. During one of the duels, he falls in love with an African-American girl in the USA, but their love puts him under pressure, knowing he may never be able to visit the USA again. The KGB forbids him from maintaining further correspondence with the American girl, leading him to marry someone else in the USSR to prove his reliability for travel to the USA.

However, this intercontinental love story persists as they grow older. The protagonist's main dream is to win an Olympic medal, but it remains elusive due to political expediency, political revenge, and personal revenge from the regime, which disapproves of his behavior. His hatred for the destructive system intensifies, evident when he donates nearly half a million dollars, earned as a coach's salary and premium payment in South America, to the victims of major floods instead of obediently surrendering the funds to the USSR State Committee for Sports, as he had always done before.

After being expelled from amateur sports, he finds himself on the streets, working as a bodyguard for gangsters. A proposition from the USA to become a professional boxer and fight Mike Tyson emerges. However, the Soviet regime representative has not forgotten the money he gave away to the peasants in South America.

When the USSR collapses in 1991, our protagonist proposes to his former trainee the idea of creating a professional boxing league in Ukraine and introduces him to a sponsor who can make it happen.

Alexander, burdened by alcohol consumption like his father, succumbs to its destructive effects.

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