‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’ Traces Putin’s Rise in Post-1991 Russia
Updated
Updated · NPR · May 15
‘The Wizard of the Kremlin’ Traces Putin’s Rise in Post-1991 Russia
13 articles · Updated · NPR · May 15
Set in the years after communism’s collapse, “The Wizard of the Kremlin” aims less for thriller momentum than for explaining how Vladimir Putin emerged in Russia.
The review says the film does not fully work as drama, but credits it with leaving viewers with a clearer understanding of Putin’s ascent.
That emphasis makes the movie as much a political portrait of post-Soviet Russia as a character study of the forces that helped bring Putin to power.
How accurately does the film portray the real-life tactics of Vladislav Surkov, the 'Grey Cardinal' behind Putin's throne?
Was Putin’s rise a reaction to post-Soviet chaos, or was the chaos itself a tool for his manufactured ascension?
Does the film reveal the 'hypernormalization' playbook used by modern autocrats to warp reality and consolidate their power?