The Death of Stalin(2017)
dir. Armando Iannucci
Succession played as the farce it basically was.
Where to watch: Free on TubiLetterboxd ↗
Soviet officials scramble for power in the chaotic days after Stalin's death, played as farce that never loses sight of how many people the farce actually killed.
Why it’s here
Turns the actual, undignified scramble after Stalin's death into slapstick without softening what any of it cost — the comedy is the argument that authoritarian succession is always this undignified, not an exception made for laughs.
Where This Film Lives
- Setting
- Russia
- Topics
- stalinism
Read Alongside
Books that share a topic, theme, or setting with this film.
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The Origins of Totalitarianism
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