The chilling ‘post-truth’ mechanics of Putin’s Russia and its coercive control
Jude Law as Vladimir Putin and Paul Dano as Vadim Baranov appear in “The Wizard of the Kremlin.” (Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment/Gaumont)
In a remote, frozen blue forest far from Moscow’s politics, Vladimir Putin’s former spin doctor walks his dog without once looking over his shoulder. Snow-encrusted trees twist behind him like prison barbed wire, a fence he helped build. The silence feels more like a warning than a peaceful retirement.
The Melodious Report breaks down Olivier Assayas’ “The Wizard of the Kremlin,” a film adapted from Giuliano da Empoli’s novel.
The film traces two paths that open after the fall of the Soviet Union, one toward wealth and one toward power; both lead to the Kremlin’s door. Jude Law plays Putin, icy cold in appearance and soul. Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a reserved, steady strategist who rides alongside Putin as he rises to power.
Released on streaming platforms weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, it is a portrait of political power, psychological control and dark Russian humor that may serve as a cautionary tale.
