Overview
- The first North American trailer, released Monday, tees up a May 15 theatrical launch in the U.S. from distributor Vertical.
- Jude Law portrays Vladimir Putin, while Paul Dano plays Vadim Baranov, a fictional spin doctor who narrates and shapes the rise to power.
- Olivier Assayas directs an adaptation of Giuliano da Empoli’s novel with co-writer Emmanuel Carrère, and the Venice competition title runs about 156 minutes.
- The film blends dark satire and political drama as it tracks mythmaking, media control, and state violence in post‑Soviet Russia.
- Early reaction is mixed, with Rotten Tomatoes near 52 percent and reviews praising Law’s restrained turn while questioning the film’s tonal balance.