Jude Law embodies Russian President Vladimir Putin in director Olivier Assayas’s new film, The Wizard of the Kremlin, which had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in a performance sure to spark global debate, according to abcnews.go.com.
The film, an adaptation of Giuliano da Empoli’s acclaimed novel, delves into Putin’s complex rise to power. It features Paul Dano as a fictional advisor, Vadim Baranov, a character inspired by Vladislav Sourkov, the real-life political strategist considered an architect of Putin’s tightly controlled political system. Set against the backdrop of post-Soviet chaos in the early 1990s, the story explores the cynical and deceptive nature of modern politics.
The Wizard of the Kremlin marks French filmmaker Assayas’s English-language debut. He is known for critically acclaimed works like Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper. Co-starring with Law and Dano is Alicia Vikander. Due to the ongoing conflict, the production was filmed in Latvia instead of Russia.
Assayas described his film not as a straightforward political biography but as “a reflection on modern politics… the smoke screens behind which it now hides: cynical, deceptive, and toxic.” The film’s premiere arrives at a poignant moment, with Russia’s war in Ukraine entering its third year and international diplomatic efforts stalled.
Playing in the main competition, The Wizard of the Kremlin is competing for top honours against films such as Frankenstein, Bugonia and La Grazia. The winners will be announced on September 6, capping off the festival.
•Featured image: Jude Law on the red carpet for the screening of “The Wizard of the Kremlin” at the Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy, on Sunday/Theo Wargo / Getty Images
