73SSIFF - 19/27 September 2025
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Le mage du Kremlin / The Wizard of the Kremlin

Olivier Assayas
France      150 m.
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Russia, early 1990s. Amid post-Soviet chaos, a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov, charts his path. First an artist, then a reality show 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.

Director
Olivier Assayas (France)
Screenplay
Olivier Assayas, Emmanuel Carrère
Production
Curiosa Films (France)
Olivier Delbosc
Co-Production
Gaumont (France)
Sidonie Dumas
Sales
Gaumont (France)
Distribution
DEA Planeta (Spain)
Photography
Yorick Le Saux
Editing
Marion Monnier
Sound
Nicolas Cantin, Nicolas Moreau, Gwennolé Le Borgne, Sarah Lelu, Olivier Goinard
Cast
Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Jeffrey Wright
Format
DCP FOLLOWING DCI
Run time
150 m.
Original language of the film
English
Country
France
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