Would you like to see a tongue-in-cheek comedy about the tyranny of a brutal dictatorship? If so, you’re in luck because “The Death of Stalin” is the film for you.
Scottish filmmaker and television creator Armando Iannucci is well known for his satirical comedies targeting the absurdity of politics in both the United Kingdom and America, most notably in the TV series “Veep,” “The Thick of It” and acclaimed movie “In the Loop.”
Here, Iannucci returns to the screen with “The Death of Stalin” as director and cowriter, this time tackling the brutal reign of Stalin and the Soviet Union.
Now, before I begin, this movie is definitely not for everyone. The comedy revolves around an all-controlling state, where people being abducted by the secret police is just another part of everyday life. In addition, there is a great deal of bad language. If that is too far for you, I don’t blame you.
It’s worth mentioning this is very much a foreign production. The filmmakers and most of the cast are from the UK, and the movie is based off a French graphic novel of the same name. But don’t worry, this movie is not hard to understand.
The setting is 1953. Joseph Stalin, one of the worst people in recent history, rules over communist Russia with an iron fist. Citizens and even government figures live in daily fear of him. That is, until Stalin suddenly dies. Now members of his regime are scrambling around, not knowing what to do and wondering who will take his place.
This movie does fill you in on everything you need to know about the time period – but a little research wouldn’t hurt either.
The plot I have just described may sound like a serious historical drama, but “The Death of Stalin” is not a drama. It’s a screwball comedy. In the similar manner of “Dr. Strangelove,” which made fun of nuclear warfare, this film uses outlandish humor to satirize oppressive government.
What is truly interesting about “The Death of Stalin” is how it differs from the typical historical film. First off, none of the actors attempt to speak with a Russian accent.
Why would a movie about history do this? Well, it might be more appropriate than what is typically done in most historical films. In a standard Hollywood production, the actors would have Russian accents, yet continue to speak English, such as “K-19: The Widowmaker.” Plus, like “The Widowmaker,” not all actors are very good at creating convincing accents. Iannucci told RogerEbert.com that Russians don’t like hearing fake Russian accents.
Having the actors not attempt Russian accents at all does make sense – it also adds another dose of comedy.
Most historical films try to hide their inaccuracies rather claiming to be based on the true story.“The Death of Stalin” does have plenty of inaccuracies, but it never claims to be 100 percent accurate. Even one of its own trailers features the tagline “Loosely based on the true story.” It’s almost in the style of “Our Town,” which is a play famous for using imaginary props. Strangely, by destroying the allusion a play or a movie tries to create can in turn make the story more engaging.
And if you think what you are seeing on screen is too ridiculous, then you really should look into the actual history behind the Soviet Union. You couldn’t make up some of what really happened.
Truth can be stranger than fiction.
However, you should remember that life in the Soviet Union is different than how it is portrayed. For instance, according to YouTuber The Cynical Historian, during this specific time “The purges were finished for over a decade,” meaning that Secret Police raids weren’t common anymore – or less common, anyway. This movie is very much an exaggeration of history and my only true criticism of this film is that it could’ve gone further with it. But of course, from the comedic atmosphere, you can already tell that it is an exaggeration.
The dark subject matter can make you feel uncomfortable, especially when considering the current state of the Russian government. In fact, “The Death of Stalin” is banned in Russia.
That said, “The Death of Stalin” is a very funny movie. In the style of “Dr. Strangelove,” this movie makes a bleak situation out to be hilarious. This film’s comedy comes from its dry wit, over-the-top scenarios and especially the acting. The all-star cast delivers humorous and energetic performances. They portray real figures, who were powerful and feared, to be a bunch of petty buffoons. The absurd comedy and performances go well with the absurd history.
As someone who enjoys history and comedy – including dark comedy – I’m very happy to see a movie like “The Death of Stalin.” I highly recommend watching this. Even though we will always complain about our own democratic society, it’s a good reminder to know that life under an all-controlling state can be much worse.
