The Wizard of the Kremlin, a film by Olivier Assayas, delves into the rise of an oligarchical Russia and the factors that shaped it. What makes this particularly fascinating is the film's exploration of the parallels between the Russian and American political landscapes, specifically the roles of Vladislav Surkov and Roy Cohn, and their influence on Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump respectively.
In my opinion, the film's strength lies in its ability to showcase the construction of reality around powerful figures. The line, "stop making up stories, and start inventing reality," spoken to the character Baranov, encapsulates the essence of this hypernormalization. It's a concept that resonates deeply with the post-truth era we find ourselves in.
The film highlights how a society can succumb to delusion on a grand scale, a phenomenon that Professor Alexei Yurchak has termed as a symptom of overwhelming social and political upheaval. This acceptance of a distorted reality, as seen in both Russia and the West, is a disturbing trend that has far-reaching implications for democracy and truth.
One of the most intriguing aspects is the use of 'political technologists' to manipulate and control public opinion. This coordinated attack on worldviews, as seen with Putin and Trump, is a disturbing development in modern politics. It raises questions about the role of disinformation and the erosion of trust in institutions and media.
The film's portrayal of a Russia filled with conflicting groups, all funded by the Kremlin, is a powerful metaphor for the chaos and confusion that can be engineered. It's a strategy that makes collective resistance incredibly difficult, as mistrust becomes endemic.
The diverse accents and caricatures in the film add to this sense of indecipherable chaos, reflecting the complex and often surreal nature of modern politics.
While The Wizard of the Kremlin may not provide a comprehensive history lesson or a serious analysis of Russian politics, it offers a thought-provoking exploration of hyperreality and its impact on society. It's a film that invites us to reflect on the dangerous path we've taken towards a post-truth world and the need to reclaim our reality.
