The Wizard's Web: Fact and Fiction Blur in Putin's Rise to Power The latest film adaptation of Giuliano da Empoli's novel, The Wizard of the Kremlin , raises more questions than it answers about Vladislav Surkov's role in shaping Vladimir Putin's authoritarian regime.
Director Olivier Assayas has admitted that the line between reality and invention is blurred in this "factional" tale, where characters are composites or outright fabrications.
This blurring of lines creates a challenge for understanding the inner workings of Russia's power structures. The film portrays Vadim Baranov, based on Surkov, as a Machiavellian media manipulator.