Death of Stalin, The (2017): Armando Iannucci’s Political Black Comedy

Thge Death of Stalin is a political satire, directed by Armando Iannucci and co-written by him, David Schneider, Ian Martin with Peter Fellows.

Based on the French graphic novel La Mort de Staline (2010–2012), the film depicts the internal socio-political power struggle among the members of the Soviet Politburo following the 1953 death of Stalin.

The co-production stars Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine, Rupert Friend, Jason Isaacs, Olga Kurylenko, Michael Palin, Andrea Riseborough, Dermot Crowley, Paul Chahidi, Adrian McLoughlin, Paul Whitehouse, and Jeffrey Tambor.

It received critical acclaim and various accolades, including nominations for two British Academy Film Awards, and 13 British Independent Film Awards, four of which it won.

As expected, there was fierce opposition to the film in Russia, where it was seen as “anti-Russian propaganda,” and thus banned.

On the night of 1 March 1953, Joseph Stalin calls the Radio Moscow director to demand a recording of the just-concluded live recital of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. The performance was not recorded; not wanting to anger Stalin, the director refills the half-empty auditorium, brings a new conductor to replace the original who has passed out, and orders the orchestra to play again. Pianist Maria Yudina initially refuses to perform for the cruel dictator, but ultimately is bribed to comply.

The take ends in 1956, with Maria as soloist at another performance of Concerto No. 23. Having triumphed over other members as the new leader of the Soviet Union, Khrushchev attends.

Brezhnev, who will succeed Khrushchev in 1964, eyes Khrushchev from his seat.

 

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