The Wizard of the Kremlin

In the early chaos of post Soviet Russia, a gifted but restless creator named Vadim Baranov climbs from art into television and politics. He becomes the go to strategist for a rising security chief and helps craft the public story of a new Russia. He walks a delicate line between fact and spin, belief and manipulation, drawing strength from a magnetic woman named Ksenia who resists his control. Through flickering images and sharp dialogue, it also captures the murky backstage of studios, backroom deals, and the uneasy tie between art and power. As years pass, Baranov withdraws from the limelight and settles into mystery, only to surface again with hard truths about the regime he helped shape. A moral maze unfolds under the glare of cameras.

Directed by Olivier Assayas, The Wizard of the Kremlin brings together Giuliano da Empoli and Emmanuel Carrère to chart a volatile rise through post Soviet Russia and the making of a political machine, blending intimate drama with astute social observation.

Box office data for the film has not been released publicly yet, and there are no widely reported figures to date. Producers are aiming for a careful festival circuit rollout that could translate into limited theatrical exposure and strong later platform availability.

Early chatter at trade screenings hints at potential nominations for acting and screenplay, though nothing is confirmed yet. The ensemble work, especially Paul Dano and Jude Law, has sparked conversation about portraying power without glamorizing it, and some pundits predict a few craft nominations.

Critics are likely to focus on a sharp portrait of power that blurs truth and spin, the seductive pull of charisma, and the moral cost of keeping secrets as a country reshapes its identity. Dano and Law deliver tense performances that anchor the drama and invite tough questions.