Shadowboxing

Artyom, already a national figure, waits at a crosswalk when Sasha Belov asks for an autograph for his son Ivan, who is abroad studying boxing. The moment shows Artyom's celebrity status and the personal connections that surround him. Sasha hints at a future reward: a car if Artyom wins the fight.

Valiyev, a powerful figure in crime and business, looks after Artyom and resists the manager's plan that Artyom should lose the first match and win a rematch. He believes in Artyom's true abilities and controls the course of his career. The scene sets tension between money, influence, and boxing ethics.

Artyom suffers from eye problems that threaten his ability to fight, and the doctor initially refuses to sign off. After Artyom pleads with desperate determination, she grants him a permit to compete. The decision is pivotal, because the upcoming fight could worsen his condition.

During the ring fight, Artyom takes a severe blow that deteriorates his vision. He must rely on guesswork to locate his opponent as the fight continues. After a brief exchange of attacks, he loses consciousness.

Artyom wakes in a hospital to a doctor who reveals retinal detachment. She explains that the sight can be saved with treatment, but blindness will progress without urgent care. The operation costs $30,000, an amount he cannot raise.

Artyom, once supported by Valiyev, learns that his benefactor will not pay for the operation. The possibility of losing his career and sight looms large. The situation pushes him toward drastic, illegal options.

The only option left to save his sight—and his relationship with Victoria—is to break the law. Artyom agrees to a dangerous plan with his ally Kostya, despite the risks. They prepare to orchestrate a bank robbery to obtain the funds.

The plan comes to life with a loud cracker hidden in a beer can to create a distraction. Kostya bypasses guards while Artyom feigns a cash withdrawal. In the chaos, a guard raises a gun and Artyom disables him to seize the moment.

After the operation, Artyom's eyes are bandaged as he is taken to Valiyev's house. He pretends to be blind to mislead his captors, and with Kostya's help he manipulates a guard to reveal the location of the money. He seizes an opportunity and escapes the house.

During an outdoor performance of Richard III, a hired killer locates Victoria. She struggles to shoot him, but Artyom appears behind his back and knocks the killer out, saving her at the crucial moment.

Valiyev finds Artyom and shoots him, leaving him severely wounded and in police custody. Artyom is arrested and taken to a hospital, while the FSB moves quickly to arrest Valiyev for his criminal empire and crimes.

After several years, Artyom is released from prison and greets Victoria and their mutual friends. The reunion is bittersweet, underscored by the long separation and the memory of the sacrifices they made.

A caller—Larry, Artyom's old opponent—asks for a rematch and hints at a Las Vegas setting. The camera lingers on a snowy field and a distant forest as Artyom listens, leaving the ending open to whether he accepts the challenge.