Against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, British actor Jude Law donned extensive prosthetics to transform into Vladimir Putin for what may be one of the most provocative films to emerge from this year’s Venice Film Festival.
“The Wizard of the Kremlin,” directed by acclaimed French filmmaker Olivier Assayas, held its world premiere Sunday in the festival’s main competition, immediately generating buzz for its unflinching examination of the Russian president’s ascent to power.
The film, based on Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling novel, presents a fictionalized account of Putin’s rise through the eyes of Vadim Baranov, a fictional political adviser portrayed by Paul Dano. The character draws inspiration from real-life political strategist Vladislav Surkov, widely regarded as the architect of Putin’s tightly controlled political apparatus before his resignation as deputy prime minister in 2013.
Law, speaking to the press at the festival, acknowledged the weight of his casting choice but expressed confidence in the project’s artistic integrity. “I felt safe in the hands of Olivier,” the actor stated, emphasizing that the film seeks nuanced storytelling rather than sensationalism. “This is a story that was going to be told intelligently with nuance and consideration. We weren’t looking for controversy for controversy’s sake.”
The narrative spans from the chaotic post-Soviet period of the early 1990s through 2014, chronicling not just Putin’s political maneuvering but the broader transformation of Russian governance. Dano’s character serves as both narrator and central figure, reflecting on his role in crafting what Assayas describes as the blueprint for “21st-century politics.”
“The wizard is the person who is in the background, so there’s a casting of a spell that is happening,” Dano explained, highlighting the film’s focus on the hidden architects of political power rather than its public faces.
For Assayas, whose previous works include “Clouds of Sils Maria” and “Personal Shopper,” this marks his English-language debut—a deliberate choice for a story he believes has global implications. The director positioned the film as a cautionary tale about modern political manipulation, noting in his director’s statement that it examines “the smoke screens behind which [politics] now hides: cynical, deceptive, and toxic.”
The production faced immediate practical challenges, with filming relocated to Latvia due to the impossibility of shooting in Russia. This geographical displacement serves as a reminder of the real-world tensions that give the film its urgency. As Assayas noted during the press conference, current global politics present scenarios that are “not only terrifying but even more terrifying by the fact that we have not found the answer.”
The timing of the film’s release adds layers of complexity to its reception. While da Empoli’s source material was written before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the author maintained that the work remains “right” and “still relevant today, three years later, under different circumstances.”
Swedish actress Alicia Vikander, reuniting with Assayas after they collaborated on “Irma Vep,” provides what the director calls a representation of “freedom” in a narrative dominated by masculine power structures. Her role as Baranov’s romantic interest offers a counterpoint to what Vikander herself described as “a story about a lot of men talking in rooms.”
The film’s reception at Venice could prove telling for its eventual global distribution. Actor Jeffrey Wright, who portrays the journalist to whom Baranov recounts his story, made an impassioned case for the film’s relevance to American audiences, warning against the erosion of democratic ideals that the narrative explores.
“Even within the time frame of the original sins of America…we had an idea that we could be better,” Wright observed. “If that is lost, as it is now, then we become what we see in this film.”
As “The Wizard of the Kremlin” competes alongside other high-profile entries, including “Frankenstein” and “Bugonia,” for Venice’s top honors, its political themes ensure it will remain a talking point long after Saturday’s awards ceremony. The film currently lacks a North American release date, though industry observers suggest its festival reception may influence distribution strategies.
In an era where the lines between entertainment and political commentary continue to blur, Assayas and his cast have delivered a work that refuses to separate art from the uncomfortable realities of contemporary power. Whether audiences will embrace this unflinching examination of political manipulation remains to be seen, but the film’s premiere suggests that some stories demand telling, regardless of their potential to provoke or disturb.
The Venice Film Festival continues through September 7, with “The Wizard of the Kremlin” representing one of the most politically charged entries in recent memory—a fitting addition to a festival known for premiering films that challenge audiences to confront difficult truths about the world around them.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Jude Law’s controversial portrayal of Vladimir Putin in “The Wizard of the Kremlin” premiered at the Venice Film Festival as a timely political thriller examining how modern authoritarian politics were crafted.
Based on a bestselling novel, the film focuses on the hidden architects of power rather than Putin himself, tracing the creation of Russia’s controlled political system from the 1990s through 2014.
