The Wizard of the Kremlin

Russia in the early 1990s. The Soviet Union has collapsed and a new world is emerging from its ruins – chaotic, predatory, and unscrupulous. Vadim Baranov, an exceptionally astute and intelligent young man, unexpectedly finds himself catapulted from the world of art and television entertainment to the very center of power. He becomes the unofficial advisor and architect of the public image of an inconspicuous man from the secret services – Vladimir Putin. Baranov masters words, images, and illusions. Behind the scenes in the Kremlin, he creates stories that shape the new Russian reality. He teaches Vladimir how to speak to people. How to replace truth with manipulation. How to turn faith into a tool of control. The only person Baranov cannot control is Ksenia – a woman who reminds him that there is life beyond the shadow of the Kremlin. After fifteen years of silence, Baranov speaks out. His testimony reveals the behind-the-scenes workings of the regime he helped build. He takes us into the dark corridors of the political system, where every word serves a purpose and no version of reality is definitive. THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN is a dark political thriller about power and a world where reality and facts are born behind closed doors. The film was directed by Olivier Assayas, a master of political and psychological drama. The main roles are excellently played by Paul Dano as the brilliant strategist Vadim Baranov, Jude Law in a hypnotic portrayal of Vladimir Putin, and Alicia Vikander as Ksenia, the free and elusive antithesis of the world of power. Their performances give this cynical story a human face – and a dangerous appeal.