The Death of Stalin
dir. Armando Iannucci · 2017
Plot
In early-1953 Moscow, under the Great Terror's heavy cloak of state paranoia, the ever-watchful Soviet leader, Iosif Stalin, collapses, unexpectedly, of a brain haemorrhage. As a result, when someone discovers his body the following morning, a frenetic surge of raw panic starts spreading like a virus amongst the senior members of the Council of Ministers, as they scramble to maintain order, weed out the competition, and, ultimately, take power. But, in the middle of a gut-wrenching roller-coaster of incessant plotting, tireless machinations, and frail allegiances, absolutely no one is safe; not even the feared chief of the secret police, Lavrenti Beria. In the end, who will prevail after the death of Stalin?
Why watch
"The Death of Stalin" masterfully blends dark humor with political satire, exposing the absurdity of power struggles in a totalitarian regime. This film invites viewers to laugh at the chaos of history while reflecting on the chilling realities of institutional corruption.
Talking points
- the ethics of power
- the absurdity of bureaucracy
- humor in tragedy
- the role of satire in political discourse