• Jude Law portrays Vladimir Putin in "The Wizard of the Kremlin" at the Venice Film Festival.
• Law described his preparation as "obsessive," immersing himself in footage of the Russian leader.
• The film critiques authoritarianism and examines Putin's rise to power through a fictionalized narrative.
• Directed by Olivier Assayas, the movie is based on a best-selling novel by Giuliano da Empoli.
• The film is competing for the prestigious Golden Lion prize at the festival.

British actor Jude Law stated that he became an "obsessive" watcher of Vladimir Putin while preparing for his role in "The Wizard of the Kremlin," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival. The film, directed by Olivier Assayas, offers a comprehensive portrayal of Putin's rise to power, focusing on themes of authoritarianism. Law noted, "There's a lot of footage one could watch, and personally, when I start going down that rabbit hole, it becomes sort of obsessive," highlighting the demanding nature of embodying such a complex character, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Le Monde.

In preparing for his role, Law noted the challenge posed by Putin's famously deadpan expression. He acknowledged that “the public face that we see (of Putin), we see very, very little,” thus making it difficult to convey the character's inner complexities. The dedication to his craft was aided by an effective makeup team, which helped him achieve a resemblance to the Russian leader, as reported by Reuters and South China Morning Post.

The narrative of "The Wizard of the Kremlin" unfolds through the eyes of a fictional political advisor named Vadim Baranov, played by Paul Dano, chronicling Putin's suppression of political dissent and the corruption within his regime. Assayas remarked that the film reflects on the transformation of Russia from a chaotic democracy in the late 1990s to modern autocracy under Putin, serving as a cautionary tale for contemporary politics. “We made a movie about what politics has become and the very scary and dangerous situation we all feel we are in,” Assayas explained, according to Le Monde and South China Morning Post.

While early reviews of the film have been mixed, praising the performances of Law and Dano yet criticizing pacing, the film remains a significant competitor for the Golden Lion prize amidst 21 films showcased at the Venice Film Festival. With its exploration of authoritarianism intertwined with personal narratives, "The Wizard of the Kremlin" holds a vital position in this year's lineup, according to Reuters, South China Morning Post, and Le Monde.