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The Wizard of the Kremlin

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The Wizard of the Kremlin

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Summary

In early 1990s Russia, reality TV producer Vadim Baranov is hired as a spin doctor for a fast-rising security agent Vladimir Putin. They work closely to blur the boundaries between truth and lies and dictate the make-up of contemporary Russia. Vadim protects the dark secrets of the regime.

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Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

James Mottram

The rise of Vladimir Putin forms the backbone of this engrossing ride through recent Russian politics. Guiding audiences through the murky post-Soviet world is Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), the eponymous "wizard" of Russia's centre of government. Framed via a conversation with a journalist (Jeffrey Wright), Baranov's rise from hawker to TV producer to Kremlin power-player is never less than compelling, as director Olivier Assayas (Carlos) paints a fascinating picture of Mother Russia and its authoritarian new leader, Putin (Jude Law). Adapted by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère, it's based on Giuliano da Empoli's 2022 novel, a mix of fiction and fact in which the Baranov character is inspired by the real-life Vladislav Surkov. A wig-wearing, waterskiing (and not entirely convincing) Law may be the star turn, but this is Dano's film, and the Batman star anchors it superbly. Featuring Alicia Vikander as the elusive woman whose life intersects with Baranov's, this is an energetic, vivacious look at the allure of power and those who took advantage of the chaos of Russia in the 1990s.

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6.1/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameVadim BaranovPaul DanoKseniaAlicia VikanderDmitri SidorovTom SturridgeBoris BerezovskyWill KeenRowlandJeffrey WrightVladimir PutinJude LawIgor SechineAndrei ZayatsAlexander ZaldostanovKaspars KambalaYevgeny PrigozhinAndris KeissBoris YeltsinGeorge Sogis

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Crew

rolenameDirectorOlivier AssayasWriterGiuliano Da EmpoliWriterOlivier AssayasWriterEmmanuel CarrèreProducerOlivier DelboscProducerSidonie DumasDirector of photographyYorick Le SauxEditorMarion MonnierCastingAntoinette BoulatProduction designerFrançois-Renaud Labarthe

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Details

Theatrical distributor

Signature

Released on

2026-04-17

Languages

English

Guidance

Violence, swearing, sexual references

Formats

Colour

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