Overview

• Early reactions are divided, with critics widely praising Law’s performance while questioning the film’s pace, tone, and insight.
• Screening in Venice’s main competition, the film adapts Giuliano da Empoli’s novel through the viewpoint of fictional Kremlin strategist Vadim Baranov, played by Paul Dano and inspired by Vladislav Surkov.
• Assayas emphasized that the work is a reflection on contemporary politics and the methods of authoritarian power rather than a conventional biopic.
• Law said he did not fear reprisals for portraying Putin and used his natural voice with hair and makeup to suggest the leader.
• Produced in Latvia because filming in Russia was not possible, the English-language feature is seeking broader distribution, including in the U.S.