New Film at Berlinale Explores Boris Becker’s Rise and Fall in Tennis Career

By | Niranjan Bhargav 21 Feb, 2023

Boris Becker, the former German tennis champion with a thunderous serve, is the subject of a new documentary titled “Boom! Boom! The World vs. Boris Becker.” The film, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, traces Becker’s career from the dizzying heights of winning Wimbledon at the age of 17 to his personal struggles, including addiction and bankruptcy, that culminated in a prison sentence at the age of 54.

A “docu-western” with a star-studded cast:

Directed by Alex Gibney, the documentary blends archival footage of Becker’s on-court heroics with interviews with some of tennis’ biggest names, including Novak Djokovic, John McEnroe, and Bjorn Borg. Gibney envisioned the film as a “docu-western“, setting match points to the music of Ennio Morricone to convey the sense of drama in Becker’s life.

The film explores the mentalities of world champions:

Becker’s story highlights the complexity of being a world champion in a sport. While their talents on the field are unparalleled, they often struggle to manage their lives outside of it. “You expect world champions in a sport to be like everyone else but we aren’t,” Becker said at a news conference. “To have that mindset…in real life, that’s a problem.“

Becker reflects on his career and his future:

In the film, Becker speaks candidly about his life and career, including the personal demons that led to his downfall. He also reflects on the difficulty of life as a professional athlete, and the physical toll it took on his body. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about the future, and his passion for film and storytelling.

The documentary serves as a testament to Becker’s legacy and a reminder of the highs and lows that come with being a world-class athlete. As Becker himself acknowledges, “It’s very difficult to win Wimbledon at 17…You have to be a bit crazy to cross the line and do things nobody else has ever achieved before.“