The Death of Stalin is a political comedy following the aftermath of Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953. Director Armando Iannucci creates both a hilarious satire of the inner workings of the Central Committee, and a striking portrayal of the desperation and brutality that was faced at that time. Before Stalin dies he calls the director of Radio Moscow demanding a recording of that evenings Mozart performance, and then sends out a list of names to be executed – a regular evening in 1950’s Russia.
The characters are governed by a desire not to be imprisoned or put on a list, which results in a lot of unexpected behaviour and moments that you ca not help but laugh at, even though you know you should not. After Stalin, played by Adrian McLoughlin, is incapacitate by illness, the members of the Central Committee try to outdo one another in over the top displays of grief.
Viewers delight in the absurdity of these grown men debasing themselves out of desperation to remain on Stalin’s good side, and then once more to grasp onto as much power as they can. The committee members, played by Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Michael Palin, Jeffrey Tambor, Dermot Crowley, Paul Whitehouse and Paul Chahidi embark on a struggle where anything and everything goes in the race for power. The members pair off and make alliances, plot to take one another down, and are daringly unsubtle in their intentions.
After recent movies where Russian accents are performed badly, there was a deal of apprehension in seeing another Soviet adaptation. However, Iannucci lets each actor’s accent reign, so comedy was the real star here. The witty dialogue, and fast paced back and forth make this more a British style comedy, but also made the violent aspects more bearable. The contrast of violence and Monty Python style comedy creates a delightful satire which suits the cast well.
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