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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

Satirical drama skewers Putin's rise through lens of propaganda

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • French filmmaker Olivier Assayas has adapted Giuliano da Empoli's novel "The Wizard of the Kremlin" into a satirical drama.
  • The film explores the rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin through the lens of modern propaganda and political maneuvering.
  • It draws parallels to historical dictatorships and features actors Paul Dano as a Putin-esque figure and Jude Law as Putin.

French filmmaker Olivier Assayas, known for works like "Personal Shopper," has turned his attention to the complex rise of Russian President Vladimir Putin with his new satirical drama, "The Wizard of the Kremlin." The film is an adaptation of Swiss Italian political essayist Giuliano da Empoli's debut novel, which garnered France's prestigious Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française.

I remember how much I loved the city and the Ukrainian people. I couldn't imagine something like that coming. Every time I hear about the Russian bombs bombarding this country, it just breaks my heart.

— Olivier AssayasReflecting on his visit to Kyiv before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and his reaction to the ongoing conflict.

Assayas visited Kyiv before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, an experience that deeply affected him. "I remember how much I loved the city and the Ukrainian people," he stated. "I couldn't imagine something like that coming. Every time I hear about the Russian bombs bombarding this country, it just breaks my heart."

Giuliano was an advisor to [former Italian prime minister] Matteo Renzi, so he knows about modern European politics and its workings.

— Olivier AssayasDiscussing the background and expertise of the novel's author, Giuliano da Empoli.

The film, adapted by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère, draws inspiration from real-world events and contemporary writers like Masha Gessen. It focuses on the "mode, the modern version of propaganda," rather than Putin himself. The narrative centers on Vadim Baranov, a fictional character loosely based on Putin's former political handler Vladislav Surkov, who is depicted as orchestrating Putin's ascent.

Ultimately, that's the story I wanted to tell. I'm not so much interested in Vladimir Putin, who he is and what he does. What I'm interested in is the mode, the modern version of propaganda.

— Olivier AssayasExplaining the central theme and focus of his film adaptation.

"The Wizard of the Kremlin" features Paul Dano as Baranov and Jude Law as Putin, with Alicia Vikander and Jeffrey Wright in supporting roles. Assayas cast Dano, describing him as "one actor of his generation who could pull it off," praising his portrayal of Baranov as "one of the scariest characters of modern society, the young, smart engineer of politics, who ultimately has no morals."

It's one of the greatest books of the past century, which was so precise about everything. You have idealist youth living in a situation of freedom that is, step by step, taken from them, while evil is simultaneously growing.

— Olivier AssayasCommenting on the influence of Klaus Mann's autobiography, "The Turning Point," on his work.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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