Fact based story about a former Greek Olympic boxer (Dafoe) who was taken as a prisoner during World war II and placed in the Auschwitz prison camp. There he was permitted to survive as long as he fought for the amusement of his captors. His father (Loggia) and brother (Mandylor) were also held as insurance that he would continue to fight. Edward James Olmos also appears as a strong willed gypsy that is the leader of the prison factions.