Boris Becker’s rise and fall to be documented in Berlinale film
The documentary “Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker” premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and offers a glimpse into the life of the former Wimbledon men’s singles champion.
The Triumph:
The documentary’s first part, called “Triumph,” focuses on Boris Becker’s record-breaking win at Wimbledon in 1985, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the men’s singles championship.
It also covers Becker’s subsequent Wimbledon title defense in 1986 and his greatest duels against Ivan Lendl, Stefan Edberg, and John McEnroe, with interviews from his former companions and opponents.
The Public Persona and Pressure:
After his Wimbledon victory, Becker became a public persona, and people’s expectations of him grew.
The documentary shows how public attention, sponsor dates, tournaments, and jet lag affected Becker and how he began medicating himself with sleeping pills.
He also speaks openly about his addiction to sleeping pills, which affected his on-court performance and led to tabloid rumors about his personal life.
The Fall and Financial Troubles:
While the documentary alludes to Becker’s fall from greatness, it doesn’t delve into his private life, including his affairs, a daughter conceived in a restaurant broom closet, his divorce, public mudslinging, and failed relationships.
The film touches on Becker’s tax evasion trial in 2002, which resulted in a suspended prison sentence, and his later bankruptcy proceedings, which led to his trophies being auctioned off.
Becker’s financial troubles, he explains, stem from a lack of understanding of his own finances, as he continued to maintain his lavish lifestyle despite a reduced income.
Becker’s Arrest and Guilt:
The documentary notes that director Alex Gibney met Becker for an exhaustive interview in 2019, with a second one following in 2022, just two days before Becker’s arrest.
In 2022, a London court sentenced Becker to two and a half years in prison for concealing his wealth during a bankruptcy process that began in 2017.
Becker admits in the documentary that he did not understand why he was sentenced, but he later admitted to being guilty in interviews with German media after his release and return to Germany.
“Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker” offers a peek into the triumphs and failures of the former Wimbledon champion, showcasing the pressures of public life and the consequences of poor financial management.
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