The 82nd Venice International Film Festival witnessed a politically charged spectacle on Sunday night as The Wizard of the Kremlin, Olivier Assayas’s chilling new thriller, made its world premiere to a rapturous reception. Starring Jude Law as Russian President Vladimir Putin and Paul Dano as his enigmatic advisor Vadim Baranov, the film earned a near 12-minute standing ovation inside the Sala Grande cinema.
Adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s acclaimed 2022 novel, The Wizard of the Kremlin dives deep into the murky waters of post-Soviet power dynamics. Dano’s Baranov—a former avant-garde artist turned reality TV producer—becomes the Kremlin’s master propagandist, orchestrating Putin’s rise from ex-KGB operative to political titan. Law’s portrayal of Putin is both chilling and restrained, opting for subtle physicality over mimicry, and speaking in his natural voice rather than adopting a Russian accent.
The film spans decades, dramatizing wars, revolutions, and media manipulation through Baranov’s increasingly compromised perspective. Alicia Vikander plays Ksenia, Baranov’s lover and moral counterweight, while Jeffrey Wright and Tom Sturridge round out the cast as international observers caught in the Kremlin’s orbit.
Director Assayas, known for Carlos and Personal Shopper, described the film as “drama, action, and a cinematic sweep of history in the making”. His adaptation, co-written with Emmanuel Carrère, balances psychological intrigue with geopolitical tension, offering a sobering reflection on the machinery of modern authoritarianism.
Critics have praised the film’s performances—particularly Dano’s quietly unnerving turn as Baranov—and its timely relevance amid ongoing global unrest. While some reviews noted a shift in energy once Law’s Putin enters the narrative, most agreed the film’s ambition and execution mark it as one of the festival’s standout entries.
As the cast—including Vikander, Wright, and Assayas—took to the red carpet in Venice, the mood was one of solemn celebration. Law, asked about potential real-world repercussions for portraying Putin, responded, “We weren’t looking for controversy for controversy’s sake. This is a character within a much broader story”.
With its haunting tone and provocative subject matter, The Wizard of the Kremlin is poised to spark conversation well beyond the Lido. Whether viewed as political allegory or psychological drama, it’s a film that refuses to look away from the shadows behind power.
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