Character Relationship Map: Bender: The Beginning

Characters

• Ibrahim Suleiman Berta-Maria Bender-bay (played by Sergei Bezrukov) — protagonist

  An infamous, cunning con artist and self-proclaimed Turkish subject who serves as Ostap's mentor and mastermind behind the quest for the imperial scepter and gold cache.

• Bender's mother (played by Olga Sutulova) — supporting

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Bender's mother → Ibrahim Suleiman Berta-Maria Bender-bay (mother)

Story Analysis

A prequel exploring the origins of a legendary conman and his partner during the Russian Civil War.

Plot Progression

1. Moscow Negotiations — Armand Hammer secures a lucrative deal with Lev Trotsky to acquire a historic scepter. The political backdrop of the 1919 Civil War sets the stage for a high-value transaction destined for Romania.
2. The Deadly Railway — Ibrahim Bender escapes execution by boarding the transport train, only to witness a violent ambush by insurgents. The courier's death forces a desperate concealment of the relic inside a coffin.
3. Solnechnomorsk Encounter — Bender arrives in town and attempts a solo break-in at the funeral home. He is intercepted by Ostap Zadunaisky, whose romantic motives are revealed, shifting the dynamic from hostility to cooperation.
4. The Funeral Heist — The newly formed team executes a coordinated infiltration of the morgue to locate the hidden scepter. They face pursuit from insurgents and guards before successfully escaping with the prize.