The Wizard of the Kremlin

Set in Russia during the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union, this drama follows the relationship between Vadim Baranov and Vladimir Putin. Baranov, a former artist and television producer, becomes a strategic advisor and speechwriter for Putin, a rising former KGB agent. Together, they navigate the instability of the era to shape the image and power structure of the new Russian state through manipulation and deception. While Baranov manages the perceptions of the regime, he finds himself drawn to Ksenia, a woman who remains outside his influence. Years later, after a period of seclusion, Baranov reveals the hidden secrets of the system he helped establish.

The film was directed by Olivier Assayas, marking the 15th production in his career following 2024's Suspended Time. The screenplay was written by Assayas and Emmanuel Carrère. The movie stars Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, and Jeffrey Wright, with a total credited cast of 69 people. Produced by companies including Gaumont and France 2 Cinéma, the film earned 9 million USD at the worldwide box office. On IMDb, the movie holds a 6/10 rating from 4,504 votes, while it has a 6.5/10 rating on TMDB from 249 votes. These audience scores are slightly higher than the rating of 5.7/10 provided by film critics based on 44 reviews.