Actor Jude Law unafraid towards Putin's influence
Olivier Assayas' latest film, "The Wizard of the Kremlin," is set to premiere at the prestigious Venice Film Festival on Sunday evening. The film, which is competing for the Golden Lion, features Jude Law in the role of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Law, who has undergone extensive preparation for the role, learned Judo and watched countless hours of Putin footage. He emphasized that he and Assayas agreed not to imitate Putin in the film, instead focusing on finding a resemblance through references and a good wig.
The story in "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is told from the perspective of a young advisor, a fictional character based on Russian politician Vladislav Surkov, played by Paul Dano. The film is one of 20 films competing at the festival.
Law stated that the public image of Putin reveals very little about him, and he didn't want to create controversy for the sake of controversy. He expressed hope that he isn't being naive, but didn't anticipate any negative consequences from playing Putin. He also mentioned that he didn't express any concerns about Putin's reaction to the film.
Assayas, the director of the film, is well-known for his work in adapting roles for the screen, and "The Wizard of the Kremlin" is no exception. The film is an adaptation of a novel that explores Putin's rise to the Russian presidency.
Law stated that he sees his character as part of a larger story in the film, and he believes that the story is being told intelligently, subtly, and thoughtfully. "The Wizard of the Kremlin" promises to be a compelling and thought-provoking film that will undoubtedly generate discussion among audiences at the Venice Film Festival.
