The Wizard of the Kremlin: Jude Law's Putin sparks debate – here are the first reactions

Few character interpretations have felt so charged in advance. When it was announced that Jude Law would step into Vladimir Putin's shoes for Olivier Assayas's The Wizard of the Kremlin, expectations were sky-high. Now, the first reviews from Swedish critics are in, and the picture that emerges is as complex as the protagonist himself. This is a film that refuses to offer easy answers, instead painting a portrait of a man hidden behind the thick walls of power.

We follow a fictionalised version of Putin, from his days as a relatively unknown bureaucrat in St. Petersburg's corrupt 1990s, to his eventual emergence as the nation's strongman. Assayas, a master at portraying fragmented identities, weaves together historical events with an almost claustrophobic presence. It's far from a traditional biopic; rather, it's a surreal and, at times, terrifying journey into a mind shaped by paranoia and a lust for power.

A wizard without tricks

Jude Law doesn't do an impression. He doesn't mimic Putin's gait or facial expressions in a carbon-copy fashion. Instead, he does something far more difficult – he embodies the soul. With an icy calm and a gaze that can shift from vacant to menacing in a heartbeat, he builds a figure who is both terrifying and, against all odds, occasionally pathetic. One of the country's most respected critics describes it as Law managing to be both comic and cruel, often within the same scene. It's a balancing act that could have fallen apart, but here becomes the film's absolute core.

What sticks with you isn't the grand political games, but the quiet moments. The scenes where we see him alone in a desolate bathroom, or when he watches his advisors with the same curiosity a snake has for a mouse. The direction lets us sense that the wizard's greatest trick might be convincing the outside world, and perhaps himself, that he is in complete control.

What are the critics saying?

Swedish critics agree that this is a film to be taken seriously, although opinions on the final result vary somewhat. Here are the recurring themes in the reviews:

• Jude Law's performance: Universally praised as something special. He carries the film on his shoulders, making the character both fascinating and repulsive.
• Direction and tone: Assayas blends satire, psychological drama, and political thriller with a steady hand. The result, however, according to some, is occasionally uneven.
• Narrative perspective: The film is loosely based on the controversial book of the same name and has already sparked debate before its release. Several critics note that it manages to be more nuanced than its source material.
• Overall impression: This is where opinions diverge. According to one critic in public service broadcasting, it's called a "monotonous drama" that never really takes off, while others see it as one of the year's most vital cinematic works. Another heavyweight reviewer highlights how it captures the absurd and ruthless mechanisms of Russian power.

Regardless of where one lands in their assessment, The Wizard of the Kremlin is a film that provokes and engages. It's a talking point that will linger long after the credits have rolled. For those of us fascinated by the psychology of power, this is a must-see at the cinema. It's rare to see a contemporary leader portrayed with such complexity, without being glorified or simplified in the process. It's a film for those who dare to meet the wizard's gaze.