Putin Biopic Made by AI will Be Released This Year
On 23 April local time, Polish film studio AIO released a statement via the PR Leap website announcing the much-anticipated AI-assisted biopic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which will have its "world premiere" on 26 September this year. The film, directed by Polish box office champion Besaleel, was shot by Ukrainian filmmakers during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Besaleel has positioned the biopic, titled Putin, as a political thriller. This is Besaleel's first English-language film and will explore "Putin's mind and the Russian soul." In a statement, Besaleel said, "My production mission is to provide the audience with a 'user's manual' for Putin."
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Polish director Besaleel was formerly known as Patryk Vega. He was previously known for his gangster-themed films. Two of his Polish-language films, Pitbull and Mafia Women, have collectively grossed over $100 million at the Polish box office. This marks Vega's debut in the English-speaking world. He will challenge Vladimir Putin, whom he regards as "the biggest gangster in the world". The biopic was originally titled The Vor in Law. This is Russian gangster jargon for "godfather" as used in Italian gangsters. At a press conference in early February, Vega stated that the film was a means of expressing his protest. He explained, "I chose to challenge Putin through art, and the camera was my weapon." As a Polish filmmaker, he felt he was the ideal candidate to make the film. He commented, "Americans and even Western Europeans may not fully comprehend Putin. I grew up in Poland. At the same time, I was influenced by the audiovisual culture of Hollywood." This has enabled me to translate the complexities of Eastern culture into Western terms.
AIO Studios has announced that the recently released 2.5-minute trailer for the film uses advanced AI technology to present a detailed analysis of Putin's life and psyche during his 60 years of leadership in ultra-realistic detail. The trailer offers viewers a closer look at the Kremlin leader's story, touching on some of the most intimate moments of his life. The 2.5-minute trailer for the film shows footage of Putin's childhood, karate practice and confrontations with his predecessor Boris Yeltsin. According to a report by Britain's Guardian newspaper, the film also contains footage shot by Ukrainian filmmakers during the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The 2.5-hour film showcases 60 years of Putin's life, according to the Polish National News Agency. The film examines Putin's connections to organised crime and his approach to domestic and foreign politics. Vega stated in February of this year that the film is a comprehensive and uncompromising biography of Putin, spanning 60 years. The narrative begins with Putin being abused by his stepfather at the age of 10 and then progresses to his joining the KGB, the former Soviet intelligence agency, where he worked in the KGB branch in Dresden. Subsequently, Putin became involved in quasi-criminal activities as deputy mayor of St Petersburg. The film then follows the two Chechen wars, the attack on the Dubrovka theatre, and the terrorist attack on the Beslan school. Then came the Russian FSB blowing up flat blocks in Russia and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Putin was filmed in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Israel, Syria, Jordan and Poland, according to AIO Studios. The film's timeliness is its most important feature. The storyline shifts to modern times at one point, providing viewers with insights into the internal mechanisms of Russian politics that influence the perception of the 2024 presidential election. To enhance the film's authenticity, director Vega collaborated with Ukrainian cinematographers to record real events, including the bombing of cities and soldiers in combat. The film will premiere simultaneously in 35 countries, including the United States and India, and is expected to reach a potential audience of over 3 billion.
The film was made over a three-year period, using historical documentary material as well as first-hand accounts from people who have contacts with Putin. The Hollywood Reporter notes that Vega's style blends "real-world characters" with more iconic figures from Russian and Western art. This includes works by medieval Russian Orthodox painter Andrey Roublyov and Italian Renaissance master Caravaggio. Vega states, "I wanted the saints and evil in my film to fit perfectly into the ragged world of tormented Russian souls on the streets of St Petersburg."
