Olivier Assayas’s The Wizard of the Kremlin, adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s bestselling novel, is an ambitious, sprawling political drama that traces the post-Soviet transformation of Russia through the eyes of a fictional spin doctor, Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano). Blending historical events with invented elements, the film follows Baranov’s journey from theater artist to key architect of Vladimir Putin’s public image and the regime’s propaganda machinery. Jude Law portrays Putin as the calculating “Tsar,” with supporting turns from Alicia Vikander, Jeffrey Wright, and others.
The story unfolds largely in flashback, framed by a present-day interview between the retired Baranov and an American journalist (Wright). This structure allows the film to hop through key moments: the chaotic Yeltsin era, the crafting of Putin’s everyman-strongman persona, the Kursk submarine disaster,
Paul Dano anchors the film as Baranov, delivering a cool, enigmatic performance that suits the character’s manipulative, behind-the-scenes role. Where the film falters is in execution. It frequently plays like a prestige miniseries condensed into feature length (around 2 hours 36 minutes), resulting in rushed timeline jumps, repetitive lectures on power, and a sense of “authoritarianism by numbers.” The dialogue is sharp and insightful about media manipulation, sovereign democracy, and Russia’s post-communist soul-searching, but the film struggles to turn exposition into lived drama. Pacing can feel sluggish outside of Putin-centric moments, and the blend of satire, thriller elements, and historical reenactment doesn’t always cohere into something electric.
The Wizard of the Kremlin is a mixed bag, but may appeal to those interested in modern Russian politics. It’s not the pulse-pounding epic it might have been, nor as revelatory as its title suggests, but Assayas’s intelligent direction make it compelling.
Screening July 23 at Luna Leederville and Windsor Cinema.
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