The Wizard of the Kremlin

Le Mage du Kremlin

|2026|2h 36min|France·United States of America·United Kingdom
The Wizard of the Kremlin
Drama

Director

Olivier Assayas

Writer

Olivier Assayas, Emmanuel Carrère

Cast

Paul Dano
Paul DanoVadim Baranov
Jude Law
Jude LawVladimir Putin
Alicia Vikander
Alicia VikanderKsenia
Tom Sturridge
Tom SturridgeDmitri Sidorov
Will Keen
Will KeenBoris Berezovsky
Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey WrightRowland
Andris Keišs
Andris KeišsYevgeny Prigozhin
Magne-Håvard Brekke
Magne-Håvard BrekkeEduard Limonov
Matthew Baunsgard
Matthew BaunsgardLarry
Anton Lytvynov
Anton LytvynovRestaurant patron
Alexander M. Johnson
Alexander M. JohnsonSecretary
Anastasia Sutter
Anastasia SutterPutin friend
Dan Cade
Dan CadeAgent Johnson
Tom J. Benedict
Tom J. BenedictMedia-Most Executive
Emmanuel Carrère
Emmanuel Carrère
Varvara Chekhs
Varvara ChekhsGreeter
Kaspars Kambala
Kaspars Kambala
Polina Karnicka
Polina KarnickaGirl at the Club
Sergey Podymin
Sergey PodyminRestaurant guest / Theater spectator / Lobby bar visitor / Russian Army officer
Andreas Pumilia
Andreas PumiliaAdvisor
Juhan Ulfsak
Juhan Ulfsak

Synopsis

Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov, charts his path. First an artist, then a reality TV producer, he becomes the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin. At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and manipulation. Only the magnetic Ksenia is beyond his control, tempting him away from this dangerous game. Years later, after retreating into silence and shrouded in mystery, Baranov finally opens up, revealing the dark secrets of the regime he helped build.