Jude Law's portrayal of Vladimir Putin in the latest film, The Wizard of the Kremlin, may have been intended to be a scathing critique, but it seems the Kremlin has swallowed the myths surrounding its leader whole. The movie aligns so closely with the mythologized version of Putin promoted by Russian media that domestically, it reads as a compliment rather than an affront.
This phenomenon is not new. For years, the Kremlin and Russia's pop culture machine have collaborated to craft a made-to-measure version of Putin - a political superhero without age or mistakes, a perfectly calculated strategist, a former spy reframed as a Russian James Bond who always knows more than he reveals.
In recent times, this narrative has been perpetuated through TV series like Chronicles of the Russian Revolution, which presents a fictional character modelled on real figures as the man who "saves" Russia from chaos. The portrayal of Putin itself is often similarly sanitized, with his image appearing in offices and leaders being signalled by calls "from above."
However, French director Olivier Assayas's latest film seems to be trying to subvert this myth. In The Wizard of the Kremlin, Putin is framed not as a cause but as a symptom, and the narrative shifts its centre of gravity towards spindoctor Vadim Baranov and the political machinery around him.
But how accurately does the film portray reality? According to Roman Badanin, who has spent years studying Putin's biography, the image of him as a powerful KGB spy was constructed retrospectively and has little to do with reality. Most of the claims about his "recruitment work" during his time in Dresden do not stand up to scrutiny.
In fact, experts suggest that the story of how Putin became president is far more mundane than the mythologized version. The choice of Putin as successor was largely driven by Berezovsky's desire for someone who could be controlled and managed, rather than a charismatic leader. As Shalva Chigirinsky, a close friend of Berezovsky, notes, Putin was not selected for his leadership qualities but because he fit the parameters set by Berezovsky - someone controllable, loyal, and unassuming.
So why does this matter? The Kremlin's ability to shape public perception through popular culture is significant. When Western portrayals often reinforce the same narrative rather than undercutting it, it reinforces the mythologized version of Putin that has been crafted by Russian media. Jude Law's casting in The Wizard of the Kremlin may be seen as a minor diplomatic triumph by the Kremlin, and his willingness to play Putin without fear of repercussions seems like a calculated move to reinforce this image.
As the film releases in French and Spanish cinemas, it will be interesting to see how this narrative plays out internationally. Can a film that challenges the mythologized version of Putin have any impact on the global perception of its leader? Or is The Wizard of the Kremlin just another example of how Western portrayals are often complicit in perpetuating the same myths that Russian media has created? Only time will tell.
This phenomenon is not new. For years, the Kremlin and Russia's pop culture machine have collaborated to craft a made-to-measure version of Putin - a political superhero without age or mistakes, a perfectly calculated strategist, a former spy reframed as a Russian James Bond who always knows more than he reveals.
In recent times, this narrative has been perpetuated through TV series like Chronicles of the Russian Revolution, which presents a fictional character modelled on real figures as the man who "saves" Russia from chaos. The portrayal of Putin itself is often similarly sanitized, with his image appearing in offices and leaders being signalled by calls "from above."
However, French director Olivier Assayas's latest film seems to be trying to subvert this myth. In The Wizard of the Kremlin, Putin is framed not as a cause but as a symptom, and the narrative shifts its centre of gravity towards spindoctor Vadim Baranov and the political machinery around him.
But how accurately does the film portray reality? According to Roman Badanin, who has spent years studying Putin's biography, the image of him as a powerful KGB spy was constructed retrospectively and has little to do with reality. Most of the claims about his "recruitment work" during his time in Dresden do not stand up to scrutiny.
In fact, experts suggest that the story of how Putin became president is far more mundane than the mythologized version. The choice of Putin as successor was largely driven by Berezovsky's desire for someone who could be controlled and managed, rather than a charismatic leader. As Shalva Chigirinsky, a close friend of Berezovsky, notes, Putin was not selected for his leadership qualities but because he fit the parameters set by Berezovsky - someone controllable, loyal, and unassuming.
So why does this matter? The Kremlin's ability to shape public perception through popular culture is significant. When Western portrayals often reinforce the same narrative rather than undercutting it, it reinforces the mythologized version of Putin that has been crafted by Russian media. Jude Law's casting in The Wizard of the Kremlin may be seen as a minor diplomatic triumph by the Kremlin, and his willingness to play Putin without fear of repercussions seems like a calculated move to reinforce this image.
As the film releases in French and Spanish cinemas, it will be interesting to see how this narrative plays out internationally. Can a film that challenges the mythologized version of Putin have any impact on the global perception of its leader? Or is The Wizard of the Kremlin just another example of how Western portrayals are often complicit in perpetuating the same myths that Russian media has created? Only time will tell.
I've heard great things about Jude Law's portrayal of Putin and I love how it tries to subvert the mythologized version of him. It's like, we need to see a more realistic side of our leaders, you know? 
The film seems to be trying to show that Putin isn't just this perfect superhero but a complex person with flaws and mistakes too. I'm excited to see how it plays out internationally and whether it can change the way people perceive him globally. 
Fingers crossed for a more nuanced representation! 
. The Kremlin's got this whole "spin doctor" thing down pat 
, and if they want to control the narrative, they'll just spin this film too 
. I mean, we've seen this play out before with other Western films that try to critique Putin, but end up reinforcing the same myths 
. And what about the Russian media? They'll just pick and choose what they want to take from the film, and distort it even further 
. Still, I guess it's worth a watch... 
! It's like, they're trying to subvert the myth of Putin but then they just end up reinforcing it by not even going all in on the critique 
. I mean, come on, if you're gonna tackle a topic as sensitive as that, can't you at least try? 
If they want to show a more nuanced side of Putin, shouldn't they at least try to humanise him or something? 
. Can't we just be bold for once? 
. The film trying to subvert the myth around Putin is like the ultimate troll move - Russian media has created this perfect image of him and now they're just gonna call out their own myths? 
.
. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the film's message gets lost in translation or just becomes another example of how Western media is just as guilty of myth-making as Russian media 
. I mean, have you seen those documentaries where they claim Putin was a KGB spy? Roman Badanin is saying that's all made up and doesn't even add up! 
. It's like, #PutinsFateWasWrittenByBerezovsky 
. I think it's so important for Western films to challenge this narrative and not just perpetuate it 
. Like, The Wizard of the Kremlin is trying to subvert the myths, but how accurately does it actually portray reality? 
like, don't get me wrong, it's awesome that someone's trying to challenge the narrative around Putin, but at the same time, isn't it crazy how some governments can just control what gets portrayed as "true" history? 
i mean, remember when we used to watch those old History Channel shows about ancient civilizations and they were always so accurate? lol now it feels like nothing is off limits for spin 
. But at least this film is trying to subvert that myth a bit? Maybe if people start seeing the real deal, they'll realize Putin isn't so invincible 
. Still, I doubt it's gonna make much of an impact abroad 
! The Wizard of the Kremlin does seem like it could be a game-changer, especially if it starts a global conversation about how we perceive leaders and power. Jude Law's performance is gonna be key - will he be able to bring some nuance to the role without getting too caught up in reinforcing the myth? 
Putin is always so calm and collected, but Jude Law seems to bring some edge to his character. But what really got me thinking is how the Kremlin uses this movie as a tool to keep their narrative going. It's like they're trying to control the narrative before anyone else can even think about challenging it 
And what if The Wizard of the Kremlin actually humanizes Putin in a way that makes him seem less villainous and more... relatable? 
What if this whole thing is still a bit too 'us vs. them' for its own good?