Jude Law, who portrayed Vladimir Putin in the film The Wizard of the Kremlin, denied that he was afraid of facing reprisals for the role.
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The feature was directed by French filmmaker Olivier Assayas and offers a look at the Russian president’s rise to power, showing how Putin ruthlessly eliminated those who crossed his path.
During the Venice Film Festival on August 31, Law was asked by reporters if he was concerned about possible retaliation for the role. “Naively, I hope not, but… I did not fear repercussions,” said the 47-year-old actor.
Law added that the film depicts Putin’s determined rise “with nuance and consideration.” “We weren’t seeking controversy [just] for the sake of controversy,” he explained.
The film was based on the best-seller by Giuliano da Empoli, and imagines the life of Vadim Baranov (played by Paul Dano), a secret Kremlin informant who goes from artist to television producer before becoming press secretary to the young Putin.
From his office, Baranov creates narratives that blur truth and propaganda, faith and manipulation, abandoning his values to serve his master, who is determined to restore Russia’s greatness after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Law said that he tried to capture the essence of the man in his portrayal rather than simply imitate Putin. “It’s amazing what a great wig can do,” he joked.
“The tricky part is that the public face [of Putin] we see reveals very little… I felt that conflict of trying to show very little, but feel a lot and convey a lot inside,” the actor said.
The Wizard of the Kremlin is one of 21 films competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award, which will be presented next Saturday (September 6).
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First Image of Jude Law as Vladimir Putin in Olivier Assayas’ ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’ – The film charts the Russian leader’s ascent to power amid post-Soviet chaos, aided by versatile spin doctor Vadim Baranov (Paul Dano), a fictional character inspired by real-life fixer, Vladislav Sourkov byu/MarvelsGrantMan136 inmovies
