Jude Law (Vladimir Putin) and Paul Dano (Vadim Baranov) in 'The Wizard of the Kremlin,' directed by Olivier Assayas. GAUMONT DISTRIBUTION
LE MONDE'S VERDICT – Worth seeing
For a deeper understanding of contemporary Russia, one can turn to the excellent documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin, directed by Pavel Talankin and David Borenstein, available in theaters and on ARTE's website. Through the testimony of a rebellious professor, viewers could see how Vladimir Putin's powerful grip permeated every aspect of Russian citizens' lives. And, on a different scale, there is Le Mage du Kremlin (The Wizard of the Kremlin), Olivier Assayas's adaptation – assisted by writer Emmanuel Carrère – of the best-selling novel by Giuliano da Empoli, a former political adviser to Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi who later devoted himself to writing.
Staying true to its source material, the film covers 30 years of political change in Russia, from Mikhail Gorbachev's arrival at the Kremlin to the 2014 annexation of Crimea. This epic saga of power is told from behind the scenes by a man who has stepped away from day-to-day affairs, the fictional adviser Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano) – inspired by Vladislav Surkov – to an American academic, Rowland (Jeffrey Wright), who is interested in the question of democracy.
