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

Few character interpretations have felt as charged in advance. When it was announced that Jude Law would step into Vladimir Putin's shoes for Olivier Assayas' The Wizard of the Kremlin, expectations were sky-high. Now, the first reviews from Swedish critics are in, and the picture that's emerging is just as complex as the main character 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 time as a relatively unknown bureaucrat in the corrupt St. Petersburg of the 90s, right up to his final emergence as the nation's strongman. Assayas, a master at depicting fragmented identities, weaves together historical events with an almost claustrophobic intensity. This is 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 imitation. He doesn't capture Putin's walk or mannerisms in a carbon-copy way. Instead, he does something far more difficult – he embodies the soul. With an icy calm and a gaze that can shift from vacant to threatening in a heartbeat, he builds a figure who is both frightening 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 in the same scene. It's a balancing act that could have failed, but here becomes the film's absolute core.

What sticks with you aren't the big 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 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, even if opinions on the final result vary somewhat. Here are the recurring themes in the reviews:

• Jude Law's performance: Universally hailed as something truly 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 sure hand. The result, however, is according to some, a bit uneven at times.
• The narrative perspective: The film is loosely based on the controversial book of the same name, and sparked debate even before its premiere. Several critics note that it manages to be more nuanced than its source material.
• The overall impression: Here, opinions diverge. According to one public service critic, it's called a "monotonous drama" that never really takes off, while others see it as one of the year's most essential cinematic works. Another heavyweight reviewer highlights how it captures the absurd and ruthless mechanisms of Russian power.

Regardless of where you land in your 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 roll. 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 either glorified or simplified for that matter. This is a film for those who dare to meet the gaze of the wizard himself.