The producers of the project are Gevond Andreasyan, Sarik Andreasyan, and Roman Kostomarov himself. The filming process started in Sochi — this city became the starting point for creating the film. The choice of location is not accidental. For Kostomarov, Sochi is associated with important events: it was in this city that the figure skater made his return to the ice in August 2023.
“The life journey of Roman Kostomarov is not just a chronicle of the victories of a great figure skater; it is the story of a person who found himself on the brink and discovered the strength to return. For me, as a director, it is important to tell this drama honestly — without embellishments, with pain, fear, and hope. We are making not just a film about sports, but a film about overcoming, about love, and about how even after the most difficult trials, life can begin anew. And it is especially important that Roman is with us in this process — it gives authenticity to the story and a special responsibility for the entire team,” noted Sarik Andreasyan.
From youthful hardships to Olympic gold in Turin — Roman Kostomarov has come a long way to perform his legendary “Carmen.” Throughout these years, his wife Oksana Domnina has been by his side, becoming his main support on the ice and in life. But fate had a trial in store for the athlete: after a series of ice shows, he ends up in intensive care with a severe complication. Doctors inform Oksana that they had to induce a coma. A desperate struggle for the athlete's life begins, involving medical staff, relatives, and friends.
“This film covers almost my entire sports journey — both the formative period and the long-awaited victory at the Olympics with Tatiana Navka. But for me personally, the film is not just about sports. It is about our love with Oksana, about children, about the hospital and rebirth. There is a scene that will always be special for me — the first time back on the ice after the tragedy. Our film is about how to get up and move forward, no matter what happens. If after the credits people feel that giving up is never an option — we have done everything right,” shared Roman Kostomarov.
As Kirill Zaitsev says, the actors have already begun training to perform the Olympic routines and elements from the competitive program themselves. “This requires not only physical fitness and flexibility but also a deep immersion into the character. I communicate a lot with Roman, asking him about life, how he experienced the difficult period, what he felt. I also spoke with his loved ones to see him through the eyes of other people,” adds the artist.
