Film's Pro-Russian Portrayal Sparks Fury as Shoot Stalls in Latvia

A major international film project has stalled in Latvia amid financial trouble and political controversy. The movie is an adaptation of the bestselling novel *The Wizard of the Kremlin*. French director Olivier Assayas chose Latvia to stand in for Russia. However, the costly production faced unexpected budget problems. The shoot also drew sharp criticism from Latvian officials and media. They accused the film of presenting Russian political figures in an overly positive light. Latvia, a former Soviet republic, shares a tense border with Russia. The novel offers a fictional look inside the Kremlin's circle of power. The film's production company has not yet commented on the delays or the criticism.