Jude Law “learned judo” but “did not fear repercussions” for having played Vladimir Putin in the thriller of Venice ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’
Jude Law joked by saying that he hoped that he was not naive when he “did not fear repercussions” to have won the role of Vladamir Putin in the French director Olivier Assayas’ The Kremlin assistantA fictitious story of the ruthless rise of the Russian President in power throughout the 1990s. The political thriller was first at the Venice Film Festival this weekend and the law, Assayas and the Stars Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander and Jeffrey Wright were all at hand to discuss his creation on Sunday to discuss his creation.
“Olivier and I discussed that it should not be an identity theft of Putin and he did not want me to hide behind a mask of prostheses,” said Law. “We worked with an incredible makeup and hair team and we had references from this period in Putin’s life. We tried to find familiarity on me, “he said.
Although the actor’s appearance is modified for the role, he talks about his natural voice throughout the film rather than trying a Russian accent.
“It’s incredible what a large wig can do,” added Law, pulling laughter from the festival crowd.
The Kremlin assistant Adapts the award -winning novel by the Italian author Giuliano Da Empoli of the same name in a tense political drama on the rise of Putin’s Russia. Paul Dano embodies Vadim Baranov, a former gifted artist who has become a doctor-spin who would make propaganda and media manipulation at the Kremlin. Law depicts a younger Vladimir Putin, described as calculating and enigmatic ruthlessly, while Alicia Vikander plays Ksenia, the Baranov lover and the moral counterweight. From the 1990s to the 2000s, the film dramatized wars, disasters and revolutions through the eyes of Baranov, translating its transformation from the idealist to the architect of authoritarian power – as well as the personal assessment of becoming “Wizard” of Putin. The character of Dano is based on Vladislav Sourkov, the real fixer who was credited for having helped to choreography the ascent of Putin.
When asked by a journalist if he could find positive points in the character of Putin while playing the autocrat, the law stopped to think, before saying: “Well, I learned judo, then I took my own positive from that.”
The actor said that he “had descended this rabbit burrow” to watch Putin archive images, and that the “delicate side” of playing the character was how “the public face we see very little”.
“There is this mask,” added Law, also referring to the book by journalist Masha Gessen “The Man Without A Face: The Imprborder Rise of Vladimir Putin”.
“So, I was in conflict as an actor, often, when Olivier would like me – of course, as a character in a scene – to portray this or that with an emotion to motivate the scene,” said Law. “I felt this conflict of trying to show very little but I feel a lot from the inside – and it was the key, very honestly.”
Assayas addressed the speed of Putin’s story in a world where autocracy seems to be tirelessly.
“The film concerns the way in which modern politics, 21st century, was invented – and part of this evil was born from the rise of power of Vladimir Putin in Russia,” said Assayas. “We have made a film about what politics has become and the very frightening and dangerous situation in which we all think. We have taken a case – which was the specific story of Vladimir Putin – but I think that applies to many authoritarian leaders. … What is happening right now is not only terrifying, but above all because we have not really seen a relevant reaction or response.”
