Fluoroscopy | Putin or the biopic of a “coward”

A film against the Russian president, created using artificial intelligence (AI), has just been launched in Europe. “I wanted us to understand that he is a coward,” summarizes its director, the Polish Patryk Vega.

Why are we talking about it?

“Putin” is no longer just the name of a political figure, it is also the title of a biopic. Released on January 10 in a few European countries, this film by Polish director Patryk Vega is far from unanimously acclaimed.

Watch the film's trailer (in English; AI-generated images)

What it says

The story begins in 2026, when Putin, curled up in the hospital and bathing in his excrement, finds himself powerless in the face of the rout of the Russian army. After this fictional starting point, the film uses multiple flashbacks to recount the rise of the Russian dictator, from his difficult childhood to his time in the KGB. This journey is punctuated not only by extreme violence, but also by reflections on good and evil, in a context of almost metaphysical religiosity.

Who is Patryk Vega?

Unknown on this side of the big pond, and even in Western Europe, Patryk Vega has been a star at home for around twenty years. He is described as the “enfant terrible of Polish cinema”. This Malabar with a shaved head and tattoos up to his neck regularly arouses controversy and has become known for his TV series on the world of organized crime. Eight years ago, his film Botox had attracted 712,000 spectators to cinemas in three days, a big success at the box office.

Thanks, artificial intelligence

Speaking of botox, how do you recreate the Russian leader's perfectly smooth, impassive face? The title role is certainly played by a Putin lookalike, the Polish actor Sławomir Sobala. But to add to the credibility, Vega used the technology of deepfakewhich allowed him to reconstruct the face of the despot identically. “It was very difficult, we spent two years on it,” explains the director, contacted by The Press in Poland. At the beginning, we tried collaborations with CGI studios [Computer-Generated Imager] in Los Angeles. The effect was horrible, because the AI ​​doesn't understand human emotions. In the end, we created our own technology. »

Translate East for West

Patryk Vega initially wanted to make a film about the Russian mafia. Because of the war in Ukraine, he chose to fall back more directly on the “biggest mafioso of them all”. The 48-year-old filmmaker clearly claims an “artistic attack” against Vladimir Putin. At the same time, he claims to have wanted to provide the public with a key to understanding who the strong man of Moscow really is. “We are generally afraid of what we don’t know,” he says. My idea with this film was to unlock his mind and show that he is a coward. This way, people will be less afraid. »

Designed in the toilet

Being at the forefront of a possible Russian invasion, Poland could have appreciated this film against the master of the Kremlin. This is apparently not the case. In addition to disappointing entries at the box office, Poutine was hyped by the Polish press. An online media critic Onet says he wanted to go out during the screening, but stayed to better warn potential spectators. This same critic criticizes the violence of this film “disastrous from every point of view… which seems to have been designed in the toilet”. Patryk Vega defends himself by saying that his film is “in good taste” and rather “delicate”, considering the brutality of the character.

In Germany

The reception seems to have been more nuanced in Germany, where people seriously questioned this political-cinematic UFO. Independent critic based in Berlin, Bert Rebhandl saw the film for the daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. He speaks rather of a “controversial biopic”, not only because of its trashy side, but also the freedoms in terms of facts. “There are details that are conjectural that many historians would dispute, particularly with regard to the war in Chechnya and Dagestan and the terrorist attacks in Moscow,” he sums up. The Press. Bert Rebhandle, on the other hand, believes that the film is a “brilliant attempt to understand who Putin really is” and that its mix of genres contributes to this success.

What future?

Poutine would have been purchased by an American distributor, but we do not yet know if it will be shown in Quebec. One thing is certain, it will not be shown in Russia, at least not officially. Did Patryk Vega take a risk by attacking the master of the Kremlin, known for his resentful side? The director gives a small smile and responds. “I’m Catholic, you know. I believe that God is stronger than Putin…”