Set against the backdrops of the West Virginia coal mines and the world of professional boxing, “Five Good Years” tells the story of Alex Winston, a 24 year old coal miner who is the eldest of three children to Alicia Winston.  Forced to be the “other” breadwinner in the family, Alex went into the mines at an early age.  He, with his mom, and the help of his younger twin brother and sister, the Winston family has survived. 

But fate takes a dreadful turn, when Alicia is diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer, for which the only experimental treatment, is not covered by the coal mining insurance plan.  Desperate to save his mother’s life, and without her knowing it, Alex takes the job as the human punching bag

After realizing that he is as good a fighter as the boxers he’s been basically “going down for”, Alex decides to start “winning”, and begins to rise slowly up the ladder.  As the purses grow, so do Alex’s chances to bring more money to keep his mother alive.  But time is running out, so Alex, with the help of his best friend, Jackson, starts training in the hopes of going up against a rising star.  If he beats Michael Cherry in the ring, Alex can go on to bigger fights with for bigger money.

With the big fight approaching, Alicia’s health declines.  Alex must win if she has any chance.  And on the night of the big fight, there’s much more at stake than having one good shot at a title; it’s his only “shot” at giving his mother “five good years”.

“Five Good Years” is not a story about a sick woman, but more so, about the extremes a devoted son goes through so that she might survive.  It is a story of family, of friendship, and courage.  It depicts the kind of inspirational relationship, and often humorous dynamics, between mother and son, so rarely seen in motion pictures.