Jude Law debuts as Putin in Venice thriller premiere

Jude Law made his debut as Vladimir Putin Sunday evening at the Venice Film Festival, as Olivier Assayas’ political thriller “The Wizard of the Kremlin” held its world premiere in competition for the prestigious Golden Lion award.

The British actor expressed no fear about potential repercussions for portraying the controversial Russian leader, telling reporters at a press conference, “I hope not naively, but I didn’t fear repercussions. I felt safe in the hands of Olivier”. Law emphasized that the film aims to tell Putin’s story “intelligently and with nuance and consideration” rather than seeking “controversy for controversy’s sake”.reuters

A Complex Political Portrait

Based on Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling 2022 novel, the film chronicles Putin’s rise to power in the 1990s through the fictional character of Vadim Baranov, played by Paul Dano. Baranov is inspired by real-life political strategist Vladislav Surkov, who served as Putin’s deputy chief of staff and was widely regarded as the architect behind Russia’s tightly controlled political system. Surkov, often called Putin’s “Rasputin” or the “Grey Cardinal of the Kremlin,” resigned as deputy prime minister in 2013.startribune

For his transformation, Law worked with makeup and hair teams but deliberately avoided heavy prosthetics and chose not to adopt a Russian accent. “It’s amazing what a great wig can do,” Law quipped during the press conference. The actor described the challenge of portraying Putin’s public persona, noting that “the public figure we see reveals very little” and comparing it to performing behind a mask.hollywoodreporter

Timely Relevance Amid Ongoing Conflict

The film’s premiere comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues into its third year, with diplomatic efforts to achieve peace making little progress. Director Assayas noted the project’s heightened relevance, stating that when they began making the film, he thought “all that was almost behind us,” but “in fact it’s not dated at all”.startribune

Jeffrey Wright, who plays an American writer in the film, emphasized the movie’s broader implications beyond Russia, warning that if America loses its aspirational vision, “we become what we see in this film”. The cast also includes Alicia Vikander as Baranov’s lover Ksenia and Will Keen as oligarch Boris Berezovsky.aol

Venice Competition and Critical Reception

“The Wizard of the Kremlin” is competing alongside 20 other films for the Golden Lion at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, with winners to be announced September 6. The jury is presided over by American filmmaker Alexander Payne. Production took place entirely in Latvia, as filming in Russia was not feasible due to current geopolitical circumstances.wikipedia

Assayas described the film in his director’s statement as “not a film about the rise of one man” but rather “a reflection on modern politics” and “the smoke screens behind which it now hides: cynical, deceptive, and toxic”. The 156-minute film marks the acclaimed French director’s English-language debut.startribune