Boris Becker
He was filmed for three years for investigative documentary
Boris Becker is currently serving a sentence at Wandsworth Prison in London.
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Oscar winner Alex Gibney has made a documentary about Boris Becker. The convicted tennis star was followed by cameras for three years.
Boris Becker (54) was sentenced to two and a half years in prison at the end of April for delaying bankruptcy. It has now become known that the German tennis legend was accompanied by a film team for three years before entering prison. The resulting documentary will be presented in Cannes next week, as reported by the US industry magazine “Deadline”..
Interviews with family and tennis stars
The film was made under the leadership of the British production company Lorton Entertainment, which is responsible, among other things, for the documentary “Rooney” about footballer Wayne Rooney (36). It was directed by Alex Gibney (68), who received the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2008 for “Taxi to Hell”. He accompanied Becker for three years, even up to the court verdict at the end of last month. The project, which is nearing completion, will include a series of face-to-face interviews with the tennis star, as well as members of his immediate family and stars of the tennis world including John McEnroe, 63, and Bjorn Borg, 65.
“This film about Boris Becker tells an extraordinary story,” Gibney said in a statement. He offers an open insider’s view of the world of professional tennis and is also “a moving portrait” of the 54-year-old. Aside from his unique achievements in tennis, both on the court and as a successful coach, his private relationships and financial commitments have become the stuff of gossip and untruths, adds producer John Battsek (58). “Boris was incredibly brave in revealing everything to us. Alex and I share a great responsibility in the making of this film.” The production company is now offering the documentary to interested parties in Cannes.
The court sentenced Boris Becker to 30 months in prison, which was carried out immediately. The judge and the jury saw it as proven that he had deliberately concealed funds and possessions in his bankruptcy proceedings in order to protect them from the bankruptcy trustee’s access. Becker is serving his sentence at Wandsworth Prison in London. Becker and his team can still appeal the guilty verdict and the sentence.