The Death of Stalin — A Review

11th February, 2020.

You know … the job hunting is really going badly.

Honestly.

I would’ve expected something to turn up, by now.

Unfortunately?

I’ve had not a blessed sausage.

Not even a vegetarian one!

It’s … 

It’s depressing, to be honest.

I’m coping, I’m looking forward to eventually landing a job … 

But, lord, it’s hard work!

~≈†≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ve been able to keep myself occupied.

I don’t have much money: but do have a collection of movies, sitting around: ripped from the occasional DVD, and blu-ray.

And able to rent and streaming both the occasional TV show … and the occasional movie.

The latter is something I’ve done, tonight.

Yes: I’ve watched a movie that’s been in my collection for a while.

The 2017 film, The Death of Stalin.

~≈†≈~

The Death of Stalin opens in 1953: at a concert being broadcast by Radio Moscow.

A concert whose star turn is pianist, Maria Veniaminovna Yudina (Olga Kurylenko*): playing her way through a Mozart piece.

A concert … that has to be hurriedly re-staged, as Soviet leader, Josef Stalin (Adrian McLoughlin) insist on a handed delivered recording.

Unfortunately?   Maria Veniaminovna manages to sneak a note into the sleeve of the recording delivered to the dictator … 

Which, when read by the man himself … ?

Causes a near fatal cerebral haemorrhage.

One that’s only discovered by his maid … when she delivers his breakfast in the morning.

~≈†≈~

Inevitably?

News of the dictator’s death gets out.

First on the scene?

Is NKVD head, Lavrentiy Beria (Simon Russell Beale†): who’s keen to take adventure of Stalin’s death.

Beria?   Is rapidly followed by Nikita Khrushchev (Steve Bucemi) and Stalin’s deputy, Georgi Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor).

And soon … ?

By every other government minister keen to get their beaks into the cor … 

Get their grieving done in public!

It’s only at the Central Committee’s meeting the next day that the grieving — HA! — officials decide to organise the funeral … 

And start eying up potential rivals in the leadership race.

With Stalin’s notional successor, Malenkov … ?

Very aware he’s possibly not going to last for long …

~≈†≈~

Now … 

What did I make of The Death of Stalin‡?

Did I find myself watching a light film?

Yes: I did, actually!

For all that The Death of Stalin deals — literally — with the death of one of the great dictators of World War Two, despite the fact the film’s set at the height of that dictators power, despite the fact the Soviet Union was one of the nastier regimes going?

In spite of the fact there are several deaths — including the violent death of Lavrentiy Beria, the main villain of the piece — at the film’s climax?

The Death of Stalin is an absolute laugh-out-loud, totally hysterical film.

It’s an old fashioned farce: and a farce^ I can safely say is well worth your time.

Frankly?

Watching The Death of Stalin is time well spent.

The Death of Stalin.

★★★★

*        Who played Camille in Bond film, A Quantum of Solace.

†        Who I last saw in Penny Dreadful.

‡        Just as a pointless bit of trivia?   The film has inter-titles: showing us relevant quotes from the Soviet Constitution.   I recognised the font, I think: it’s one called Copperplate on the Mac: and similar to this one on Wikipedia.

^        As A final thought, and as Sean’s reminded me?   The film also sees Micheal Palin cropping up as Foreign Secretary Molotov.   Possibly the only Russian minister with an incendiaryª named after him.   Yes, you’re right, Sean: The Death of Stalin may not be accurate.   But hopefully, may encourage people to look up the period.

ª        Ninaº?   If you’re out there, can we have a few words about the Russian invasion of Finland … ?

º        Nina … ?   Thanking you … !