Jude Law had no qualms about portraying the ruthless Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the political thriller of Olivier Assayas “The Wizard of the Kremlin”, which is presented Sunday at Venice Film Festival.
“I hope that not naively, but I did not fear repercussions. I felt confident, in the hands of Olivier and the scenario, that this story was going to be told intelligently and with nuance and consideration,” said Law Sunday afternoon at the film’s official press conference. “We are not looking for controversy for controversy. He is a character in a broader story. We are not trying to define anything.
Adapted from the best-selling book by Giuliano Da Empoli in 2022 by the same name, “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is a fictitious story of Putin’s ascent in power in the middle of post-Soviet chaos as well as his relationship with Doctor Spin Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano). Although the latter is not a real person, he is inspired by Vladislav Sourkov, a real repairer who was credited for playing a key role in shaping Putin’s personality and the authoritarian leadership style. Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge and Jeffrey Wright, who all attended the press conference, complete the casting.
Law changed his physical appearance but deliberately chose to use his own voice, rather than carrying a thick Russian accent, to embody a young Putin.
“Olivier and I discussed that it should not be an interpretation of Putin, and he did not want me to hide behind a mask of prostheses. We worked with an incredible makeup and hair team and that we had reference to this period in Putin’s life. We tried to find familiarity on me,” said Law. “It’s incredible what a large wig can do.”
Dano, meanwhile, wanted to explore the interns more than the outside of his character.
“I don’t think you need to look for a positive, but you have to be ready to discover the character’s point of view. If you just had to label a character like Baranov Bad, it would be a massive outdoor simplification that would do more harm than good,” said Dano. “We have to ask” why? ” »»
Assayas were asked if he believed that Russia governs the world, to which the director has succinctly answered: “It is easy. The answer is no. ”
Although, yes, the film imagines the origins of Putin, the director has developed that he plans “the magician of the Kremlin” as a constructive tale on the “transformation of politics during our life”.
“The film is entirely on how modern politics has been invented. Part of this high illness in the rise of power of Vladimir Putin in Russia,” said Assayas. “We have made a film about what politics has become and the frightening and dangerous situation in which we all think we.
History has increased the relevance in the middle of the continuous invasion of Russia on a large scale of Ukraine. Putin has noted the news lately after meeting President Donald Trump, who worked to break together a peace agreement between the two nations. Wright proposed another reason why “the Kremlin magician” is not only appropriate, but must be “told in a mirror with regard to America”.
“This film talks about a specific place, but it has global implications for all of us. There is a specific Russian history and a specific American history unlike this. Yes, we had impulses towards fascism and autocracy and all kinds of sins. But what we also had from the start. “If it is lost as it is now, we become the thing we see in the film.”
