Lord of War

The film opens with a voice-over by Yuri Orlov, a gunrunner explaining the disturbing reality of over 550 million firearms available worldwide. He contemplates how to arm the remaining eleven people for every twelve individuals on Earth, setting the tone for his morally ambiguous journey in the arms trade.

Yuri is in a Brighton Beach restaurant when he witnesses a brutal assassination carried out by a Russian mobster. This shocking event ignites his interest in the arms trade, paralleling the insatiable need for weapons with the basic human need for food.

Yuri begins his arms trading career by contacting an Israeli operative to acquire an illegal Uzi. After completing his first successful transaction, he persuades his brother, Vitaly, to join him, leading them to abandon their family restaurant for this more lucrative venture.

During the 1982 Lebanon War, Yuri successfully sells arms to all factions involved in the conflict, witnessing horrific acts and war crimes. His success draws the attention of Interpol agent Jack Valentine, complicating his operations as Yuri typically relies on bribery.

While making a sale in Colombia, a drug lord surprises Yuri by offering six kilos of cocaine instead of cash. Following a violent confrontation, where Yuri is shot, he discovers the potential profitability of dealing in drugs, expanding his criminal operations.

Amidst Yuri's growing success, his brother Vitaly succumbs to addiction, eventually using up a full kilo of cocaine. In an effort to save him, Yuri checks Vitaly into rehab, showcasing the personal toll of their criminal lifestyle.

Yuri woos his childhood crush, Ava Fontaine, under false pretenses for a photoshoot, leading to their marriage. They welcome a son named Nikolai, also known as Nicky, marking a more personal chapter in Yuri's tumultuous life as an arms dealer.

Following the breakup of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day 1991, Yuri sees a significant opportunity to acquire military equipment illegally. He travels to Ukraine to obtain weapons through his uncle, a former general, expanding his arms business.

In Africa, Yuri meets Andre Baptiste Sr., a brutal dictator fueling a civil war in Liberia. This connection leads Yuri deeper into clandestine arms dealing, highlighting the global implications of his trade.

During a supply run in Africa, Yuri’s cargo plane is intercepted by Interpol agents led by Jack Valentine. With quick thinking, Yuri offloads the cargo to locals, managing to evade capture and continue his operations.

Yuri's wife, Ava, discovers his hidden stockpile of weapons, leading her to take their son and leave him. This discovery marks a significant turning point in their relationship as Yuri's double life becomes increasingly difficult to hide.

Yuri faces further estrangement as his parents reject him upon learning the truth about his illicit activities. This marks a profound moment of loss in his personal life, stemming from his dangerous career choices.

Yuri is ultimately arrested when U.S. Customs discovers a bullet in Vitaly’s body. Despite the arrest, he remains confident that he will be regarded as a ‘necessary evil’ in the eyes of international politics, highlighting the complexity of arms dealing.

As the film closes, Yuri reflects on his life and the nature of arms dealing, noting that such dealers may end up inheriting the world due to persistent conflicts. His insights emphasize the dark reality behind the trade of arms in global politics.

The film concludes with an informative note about the private arms trade, indicating that while arms dealers play a part, the largest arms exporting nations hold significant influence over global politics. This revelation underscores the film's central theme of complicity in warfare.