Armando Iannuci has already proved he understands how to made comedy out of ever-growing catastrophe in his political series “The Thick of It.“ THE DEATH OF STALIN follows the absurd political intrigues after the death of Josef Stalin – without losing sight of the bigger historical reality.

After Stalin has a stroke after laughing hard because of an angry message from pianist Maria (Olga Kurylenko), the fear and paranoia of his subordinates impede his quick medical treatment and the Politburo is left to scramble for power. Designated successor Malenkov (Jeffrey Tambor) is completely overwhelmed by the task and the head of the secret service Beria (Simon Russell Beale) actually has the best chances as he commands the NKWD troops and likes to make disagreeable people disappear like his former boss. He is in the running with men like Cruschev (Steve Buscemi) and Molotov (Michael Palin) who already know how to survive in the system. The people want to see a fitting funeral, and they still have to get Stalin‘s two children and the hypermasculine commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Schukov (Jason Isaacs), on their side.

The comrades have to improvise in a situation where all the players are taking notes with texts they only roughly know and a boo could mean a bullet to the back of the head. This is hysterically funny because of the phenomenal cast and the biting dialogue, like when Stalin‘s last call for help is interpreted and misunderstood until the dictactor is dead. Russian conservatives have spoken out against the film, as expected.

Christian Klose (INDIEKINO MAGAZIN)

Translation: Elinor Lewy