Overly long and often dry, director Olivier Assayas’ “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is a sweeping, provocative drama that charts the rise of modern Russia through the eyes of one of its most enigmatic insiders. Adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s 2022 acclaimed novel, the film blends fact and fiction into a speculative history that feels both theatrical and unnervingly real.
Loosely based on true events, the narrative is structured around conversations in 2019 between retired Kremlin strategist Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano) and an American journalist (Jeffrey Wright). The story unfolds in chapters that trace Baranov’s improbable trajectory from ambitious post-Soviet artist to sensationalist TV producer and eventually, to trusted advisor to Vladimir Putin Jude Law). Along the way, he witnesses (and often orchestrates) many of the defining events of Putin’s Russia. From the Chechen war to the Kursk submarine disaster, to the manipulation of media and the consolidation of state power, Baranov played a hand.
The story covers a lot of ground that can feel disjointed. Some stretches are riveting while others drag, and it’s a lot to take in. This isn’t a casual “background watch,” but a film that demands viewers pay attention.
Assayas embraces the complexity of the material, though, and while the film’s segmented structure helps navigate decades of history, it also contributes to an uneven rhythm. Certain chapters are filled with tension and immediacy while others struggle under the sheer volume of historical detail. Getting through this film in one sitting is nothing short of exhausting.
Performance-wise, Dano is terrific, balancing cynicism and wonder as a man who knows he’s playing with fire but can’t resist the game. Law’s Putin is intimidating in his restraint, and Alicia Vikander (in a memorable supporting role) embodies a force that Baranov cannot mange or manipulate. Wright becomes the film’s steady voice of reason, guiding the audience gently through all the madness. The performances are all strong despite an absence of Russian accents.
There’s also the theme of manufactured power through the manipulation of truth that feels eerily timely, which helps maintain a disturbing feeling of relevancy. The film becomes a haunting reflection on the mechanisms of modern authoritarianism.
Dense, discursive, and chilling, “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is certainly ambitious. It’s a demanding but rewarding drama that’s heavy and complex, but one that politically-minded viewers will find fascinating.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 