The Death of Stalin
The Death of Stalin is a 2017 political satire black comedy film written and directed by Armando Iannucci and co-written by David Schneider and Ian Martin with Peter Fellows. Based on the French graphic novel La Mort de Staline (2010–2012), the film depicts the internal social and political power struggle among the members of the Soviet Politburo following the death of leader Joseph Stalin in 1953. The French-British-Belgian co-production stars an ensemble cast that includes 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. The film premiered on 8 September 2017 at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was released theatrically in the United Kingdom by Entertainment One Films on 20 October 2017, in France by Gaumont on 4 April 2018, and in Belgium by September Film Distribution on 18 April 2018. It received critical acclaim and various accolades, including nominations for two British Academy Film Awards, one of which was for Outstanding British Film, and 13 British Independent Film Awards, four of which it won. There was fierce opposition to the film in Russia, where it was seen as "anti-Russian propaganda", and it was banned there, as well as in Kyrgyzstan, for allegedly mocking the Soviet past and making fun of the USSR.
I am the General Secretary of the Soviet Union. Apologies. A line has been crossed. It is my duty to look good for the people. - Of course. - Ah, comrade, apologies. I'm not gonna do the seating plan. Give it to Blavatsky. - He's expert at sitting on his arse. - Of course. Thank you. - The Committee meeting... - Oh, yes, yes. Um, item one: these lists and these arrests.
The Death of Stalin
- Freeze them? - Freeze, yes. Excellent thought. Yes, we could freeze arrests. We could even release some low-level prisoners. Fuck me. I mean... I mean, yes. But what would the old man... Oh, Stalin... Stalin destroyed the status quo and he built a new one. The changes he made were both radical and popular. - Liberalisation would be radical. - Popular. - Radical. - And popular. I will deal with whatever horseshit you have presently. - Actually, I'd like you to see this. - Come on through.
The Death of Stalin
And I propose Comrade Beria for First Vice-Chairman, Council of Ministers. So, let's take a vote. Those in favour? Those are two separate proposals. I suggest we vote one at a time. Those in favour? I'm unsure of what's being proposed. I just said what was being proposed. I just said it. And you're being obstructionist. Comrade Beria is busy combining his role as Minister for both Interior and Security. Wouldn't it be kinder if someone else carried the happy burden of Vice-Chairman? I thank Comrade Khrushchev for his concern, but I'm perfectly capable of doing two things at once. - Well, it's three things. - Should we bring in an abacus? All right, let's move to a vote on both proposals. All right? First me as... you know, and Comrade Beria as Vice-Chairman. All those in favour?
The Death of Stalin
Carried... u... nanimously. Right, next. We need someone to take charge of the funeral. - What about Comrade Khrushchev? - Where's this coming from? I formally propose Comrade Khrushchev be given the honour of organising the funeral. What? Come on, I don't have any time to do that. What if I can do three things at once, you can at least do two. What do I know about funerals? You said you wanted to honour his legacy. You told me last night in the bathroom.
The Death of Stalin
- Comrade Beria. - I propose a halt to deportations, the release of some existing detainees under Article 31 and the suspension of all arrests that were officially sanctioned three days ago. Whoa, whoa. That's like wiping your arse on Stalin's final list. - No, no, no. - This is demonstrably revisionist. Releasing people we arrested three days ago will make us look cretinous.
The Death of Stalin