Reading the official synopsis above I can recognise the plot. It may be that the translation doesn't do it justice but I couldn't follow it during the film. At one point Depardieu shoots himself or at least a double of himself through a window. I thought that was important but it seems it was just a way of getting him to play two very similar parts in the same film. Too confusing. The political smearing does not obviously bear any relationship to the boxers fame and why should it?
Fascinating to see Gerard and Isabelle before they became big stars, but the film itself is a mess that does them no service. You may need to check the DVD sleeve notes to find out what’s going on. Scenes lack focus, acting and dialogue are poor and the director just doesn’t seem to have a handle on it. A waste of all the talents involved.