
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 among 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 ... (Full plot summary below)
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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 among 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 rollercoaster 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?
Leave your thoughts about The Death of Stalin.
| Time OutPhilip De SemlyenA riotous farce of doublespeak and plotting laced with moments of bitumen-black horror. |
| Chicago ReaderJ. R. JonesIannucci may have turned Nury's somber novel into something of a goof, but he also takes a more complex view of Beria...Death of Stalin is a priceless political satir but what's really impressive is how hard it tries to fit Beria's story into the puzzle. |
| Globe and MailKate TaylorThere is one thing that power can’t stand, and that is to be mocked: The social importance of this topical romp should not be underestimated. |
| The SpectatorDeborah RossThis is not Iannucci's best work, but as Iannucci on a bad day is better than most on a good day, and there are brilliant moments, and you just can't argue with Simon Russell Beale -- in anything -- it's not nearly two hours wasted. |
| Financial TimesDanny LeighAn audacious comedy of horrors, the film has the feel of a bad dream you find yourself not wanting to wake up from. |
| PajibaJason BaileyArmando Iannucci pulls off a balancing act that's more remarkable the more you think about it: this is a movie that's both mercilessly grim and uproariously funny. |
| The Daily BeastRichard PortonThe Death of Stalin is full of pithy one-liners and cringe-inducing power struggles laced with black humor. |
| Boston GlobeTy BurrBuscemi is magnificent, but all the players rise to the occasion; you may especially cherish Rupert Friend (“Homeland”) as Stalin’s demented alcoholic son Vasily and Olga Kurylenko (“Quantum of Solace”) as pianist Maria Yudina, the film’s elegant and only note of genuine conscience. |
| Stuff.co.nzJames CrootIf you thought Armando Iannucci's takes on modern British and American politics were entertaining, just wait till you get a load of this hilarious and horrifying spin on a key moment in Russian history. |
| HeyUGuysDaniel Goodwinn our age of real life self-mocking, opinionated hogwash, the surrealist/satirist Iannucci has, with The Death of Stalin, once again nailed it. |