2005
Yuri Orlov, a Ukrainian immigrant in New York, discovers the lucrative world of illegal arms dealing and convinces his brother, Vitaly, to join him. As Yuri's business expands, he marries model Ava Cordova, who remains unaware of his true profession, while Vitaly struggles with drug addiction and the moral implications of their work. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Yuri exploits the surplus of weapons, becoming a major supplier to warlords like Andre Baptiste in Liberia, leading to a relentless pursuit by Interpol Agent Jack Valentine. Vitaly's conscience leads him to sabotage a deal with child soldiers, resulting in his death, and Yuri is arrested when the bullet that killed his brother is found in Vitaly's coffin.
Save the Cat beat sheet
LORD OF WAR follows Yuri Orlov’s rise from a resourceful Soviet youth to a globe-trotting arms dealer, his moral unmooring punctuated by personal triumphs and tragedies.
Open full beat sheetYuri Orlov is listed as Protagonist / Arms Dealer. A cynical, pragmatic, and highly successful international arms dealer who grew up in Odessa. In the parsed data, Yuri Orlov is connected to 82 scenes, 62 dialogue lines, 62 text mentions, first appearing around scene 1.
82 scenes / 62 dialogue linesVitaly Orlov is listed as Yuri's Brother. Yuri's younger brother, a former military cadet who struggles with drug addiction and moral conflict. In the parsed data, Vitaly Orlov is connected to 27 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
27 scenes / 17 dialogue linesAva Cordova is listed as Yuri's Wife. A former model who marries Yuri, unaware of the true nature of his business. In the parsed data, Ava Cordova is connected to 17 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
17 scenes / 12 dialogue linesJack Valentine is listed as Interpol Agent. A dedicated, by-the-book Interpol agent obsessed with capturing Yuri. In the parsed data, Jack Valentine is connected to 9 scenes, 17 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 52.
9 scenes / 17 dialogue linesAnatoly Orlov is listed as Yuri's Father. A man who assumes a Jewish identity to emigrate from the Soviet Union. In the parsed data, Anatoly Orlov is connected to 8 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 38.
8 scenes / 4 dialogue linesAndre Baptiste Jnr. is listed as Warlord's Son. The sadistic, drug-addicted son of Andre Baptiste. In the parsed data, Andre Baptiste Jnr. is connected to 8 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 66.
8 scenes / 1 dialogue linesDmitri Volkoff is listed as Military General. Yuri's uncle, a corrupt Soviet/Ukrainian military general who provides Yuri with access to surplus weapons. In the parsed data, Dmitri Volkoff is connected to 7 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 4 text mentions, first appearing around scene 44.
7 scenes / 3 dialogue linesAndre Baptiste is listed as Warlord / President of Liberia. A brutal, American-educated warlord and one of Yuri's most significant clients. In the parsed data, Andre Baptiste is connected to 6 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 3 text mentions, first appearing around scene 13.
6 scenes / 3 dialogue linesSimeon Zaharoff is listed as Arms Dealer. A legendary, established arms dealer who serves as a rival to Yuri. In the parsed data, Simeon Zaharoff is connected to 6 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 19.
6 scenes / 1 dialogue linesIrina Orlov is listed as Yuri's Mother. Yuri's mother who remains devoted to her family despite their moral decline. In the parsed data, Irina Orlov is connected to 6 scenes, first appearing around scene 4.
6 scenes / 0 dialogue lineschar_11 is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, char_11 is connected to 4 scenes, 1 dialogue line, 1 text mention, first appearing around scene 74.
4 scenes / 1 dialogue linesYuri Orlov introduces the reality of the global arms trade while standing on a desolate battlefield.
Yuri OrlovYoung Yuri navigates the Soviet system, stealing a pin and neckerchief to gain access to a grocery store.
Yuri OrlovYuri uses his stolen credentials to get special treatment at a grocery store.
Yuri OrlovThe Orlov family discusses their Jewish identity as a means to emigrate.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Anatoly Orlov, Irina OrlovYuri and Anatoly forge their identity by taking a rubbing from a Jewish headstone.
Yuri Orlov, Anatoly OrlovYuri and Anatoly successfully obtain emigration visas.
Yuri Orlov, Anatoly OrlovYuri prepares to leave Odessa, replacing his Soviet pin with a Star of David.
Yuri OrlovYuri arrives in the transit lounge, destined for New York instead of Israel.
Yuri OrlovThe family adjusts to life in New York while maintaining their assumed identity.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Anatoly Orlov, Irina OrlovYuri begins his career as a UN interpreter.
Yuri OrlovYuri reflects on the futility of his work while traveling through various conflict zones.
Yuri OrlovYuri meets Andre Baptiste during a UN negotiation.
Yuri Orlov, Andre BaptisteBaptiste confronts Yuri in the restroom, mocking his peacekeeper role.
Yuri Orlov, Andre BaptisteAva Cordova performs for the UN peacekeepers.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri is held up by a local man who is more interested in buying weapons than stealing money.
Yuri OrlovYuri steals an impression of Captain Carlisle's key.
Yuri OrlovYuri facilitates the theft of weapons from a UN carrier.
Yuri OrlovYuri convinces Vitaly to join him in the arms trade.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri attempts to approach Simeon Zaharoff at an arms convention.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Simeon ZaharoffYuri and Vitaly are with two women in a hotel room while Yuri watches news of a suicide bombing in Lebanon on TV.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri and Vitaly navigate war-torn Beirut to meet a customer.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri and Vitaly sell weapons to a customer by weight.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri bribes a U.S. Army Colonel.
Yuri OrlovYuri and Vitaly witness an execution while fleeing gunfire.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri and Vitaly deliver weapons to Indian troops on a glacier.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri and Vitaly find their deal cancelled due to a truce.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri and Vitaly bribe an Afghani official to move weapons.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri evades Interpol agents by changing the ship's name and flag.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Jack ValentineYuri is shot by a Narc leader during a delivery.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri is paid in cocaine instead of cash.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri finds Vitaly high and drawing a map of Ukraine in cocaine.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri drops Vitaly off at a rehab clinic.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri meets Ava Cordova at a hotel.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri and Ava arrive at the airport to board a private jet.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri and Ava drink champagne and discuss their lives while flying.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri and Ava make love in the jet.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri and Ava get married; Vitaly causes a scene with an AK-47.
Yuri Orlov, Ava Cordova, Vitaly Orlov, Anatoly Orlov, Irina OrlovYuri and Ava move into their new home; Anatoly gives Yuri a Bible.
Yuri Orlov, Ava Cordova, Anatoly Orlov, Irina OrlovChristmas 1991; Gorbachev announces the end of the Soviet Union.
Yuri Orlov, Ava Cordova, Anatoly Orlov, Irina Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri drops Vitaly off at rehab.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovYuri leaves for Ukraine.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri prepares for his trip by gathering passports and briefcases.
Yuri OrlovYuri crosses the border into Ukraine.
Yuri OrlovYuri meets his Uncle Dmitri.
Yuri Orlov, Dmitri VolkoffYuri negotiates with Dmitri to buy weapons.
Yuri Orlov, Dmitri VolkoffYuri inspects the armory.
Yuri Orlov, Dmitri VolkoffYuri inspects an AK-47 and encounters Simeon Zaharoff.
Yuri Orlov, Simeon Zaharoff, Dmitri VolkoffYuri helps Simeon get past the gate.
Yuri Orlov, Simeon ZaharoffYuri and Simeon discuss the arms business.
Yuri Orlov, Simeon ZaharoffYuri is with a barmaid.
Yuri OrlovYuri buys helicopter gunships.
Yuri Orlov, Dmitri VolkoffYuri encounters Jack Valentine at a checkpoint.
Yuri Orlov, Jack Valentine, Dmitri VolkoffYuri supervises cargo loading and encounters Simeon; Dmitri is killed by a car bomb.
Yuri Orlov, Simeon Zaharoff, Dmitri VolkoffYuri mourns Dmitri and calls Ava.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly OrlovAva receives a call from Yuri while he is in a dangerous location.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri arrives in Liberia and is picked up by Andre Baptiste Jnr.
Yuri Orlov, Andre Baptiste Jnr.Yuri checks into his hotel and rejects two women sent by Baptiste.
Yuri OrlovYuri meets Andre Baptiste and witnesses him kill a lieutenant.
Yuri Orlov, Andre Baptiste, Andre Baptiste Jnr.Yuri inspects the child soldiers and negotiates payment in diamonds.
Yuri Orlov, Andre BaptisteYuri returns home to Ava and Vitaly.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri is intercepted by Valentine while flying over Sierra Leone.
Yuri Orlov, Jack ValentineYuri gives away his cargo to locals to avoid evidence.
Yuri Orlov, Jack ValentineValentine interrogates Yuri while Mbizi struggles to contain his rage.
Yuri Orlov, Jack Valentine, Vitaly OrlovValentine returns after 24 hours to find the pilots dead.
Yuri Orlov, Jack Valentine, Vitaly OrlovYuri hitches a ride with a UN convoy.
Yuri OrlovAndre Jnr. forces Yuri to kill Simeon.
Yuri Orlov, Simeon Zaharoff, Andre Baptiste Jnr.Yuri spirals into drug use.
Yuri OrlovYuri meets Andre Baptiste at the docks.
Yuri Orlov, Andre Baptiste, Andre Baptiste Jnr.Valentine confronts Ava.
Ava Cordova, Jack ValentineAva confronts Yuri about his business.
Yuri Orlov, Ava CordovaYuri attempts to go legitimate.
Yuri OrlovAndre Baptiste visits Yuri.
Yuri Orlov, Andre Baptiste, Andre Baptiste Jnr.Yuri retrieves his bullet pendant.
Yuri OrlovYuri says goodbye to Ava and Nicolai before leaving for a business trip, while Ava secretly plans to tail him.
Yuri Orlov, Ava Cordova, char_11Ava and Nicolai follow Yuri in their car.
Yuri Orlov, Ava Cordova, char_11Yuri visits his storage locker, unaware he is being watched by Ava.
Yuri Orlov, Ava Cordova, char_11Ava breaks into Yuri's storage locker and discovers his true identity as an arms dealer.
Ava Cordova, char_11Yuri visits Vitaly at the restaurant and convinces him to join him on a job in West Africa.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Anatoly Orlov, Irina OrlovYuri, Vitaly, and Andre Jnr. travel to meet the RUF rebels.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Andre Baptiste Jnr.Yuri negotiates a deal with rebels while Vitaly witnesses the brutality of the conflict.
Yuri Orlov, Vitaly Orlov, Andre Baptiste Jnr.And while the biggest arms dealer in the world is your boss, the President of the United States - who ships more merchandise in a day than I do in a year - sometimes it's embarrassing to have his fingerprints on the guns. Sometimes he needs a freelancer like me to supply opposition forces he can't be seen supplying. You call me evil, but, unfortunately for you, I am a necessary evil.
Fake end-user certificates, cut-out companies, all meticulously catalogued. There's hardly a dictator, warlord or despot anywhere in the world you aren't on first name terms with. Your trophy wife gave us the prize. She also provided us with these - which we suspect are conflict diamonds.
War is nature. If you take away the guns, we will kill each other with knives. Take away the knives, we will kill each other with sticks. Take away the sticks, we will kill each other with your peace treaties. You cannot stop this bath of blood.
I can't wear the clothes. I can't wear the jewelry. I can't drive the car. I can't live in this house. Everything's got blood on it.
Trying to beat your offer. I sent him on his way. He doesn't understand the concept of loyalty.
Soon there's going to be a knock on that door and you're going to be called outside.
They don't have to know. We'll tell them we're going for a little "r" and "r".
Now you're going to have to buy it. It's a used gun. I can't sell a used gun.
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