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The Death of Stalin
2017 107 min Belgium, Canada, France, United Kingdom, United States of America R 18+
★7.7
Comedy, Drama, History
Director: Armando Iannucci
📖 Based on the novel
«The Death of Stalin»
byFabien Nury
Trailers
EN
EN
EN
Teaser
EN
Description
When dictator Joseph Stalin dies, his parasitic cronies square off in a frantic power struggle to become the next Soviet leader. As they bumble, brawl and back-stab their way to the top, the question remains — just who is running the government?
Budget:
$13M
US Gross:
$8.05M
Worldwide:
$24.6M
Starring
Steve Buscemi
Actor
Simon Russell Beale
Actor
Jeffrey Tambor
Actor
Awards
European Film Awards 2018
— Best Comedy
BAFTA 2018
— Alexander Korda Award for Outstanding British Film
BAFTA 2018
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Key opinion
The Death of Stalin is a polarizing film that blends dark, absurdist humor with the grim realities of totalitarianism. While many praise its sharp satire and the performances of its ensemble cast, others reject it as a superficial, one-sided farce that trivializes historical trauma.
| Acting | Steve Buscemi's portrayal of Khrushchev serves as the film's comedic and performance anchor. | |
| Theme | The film successfully utilizes dark humor to expose the inherent absurdity and incompetence of the Soviet power elite. | |
| Originality | The film’s reliance on caricature and farce divides audiences, with some viewing it as a brilliant satire of tyranny and others dismissing it as a disrespectful and shallow trivialization of history. | |
| Direction | The balance of tone is divisive, as some viewers find the jarring shifts between comedy and horrific violence to be a masterful synthesis, while others perceive it as a jarring, incoherent genre clash. | |
| Culture | The film is criticized by some for prioritizing a Westernized, cartoonish lens over historical nuance, while proponents argue its value lies in its role as an exorcism of authoritarian fear. |