The Death of Stalin, based on the comic book by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin

The Death of Stalin, based on the comic book by Fabien Nury and Thierry Robin

                The Death of Stalin has been censored in Russia

This should be an indication that aspects of this film are definitely true, otherwise why bother with a story that is preposterously false.

Indeed, the idea, the depiction of the regime, stupidity and ruthlessness of leaders, awful nature of that regime is spot on.

Even if many events are tragic and some scenes involve barbarity and/or nauseating scenes, the film is hilarious, most of the time.

Early on, we watch Nikita Khrushchev aka the spectacular Steve Buscemi as he talks to his wife.

She has the role of a…censor, albeit not the usual kind, for she records on paper what he remembers from the evening…

Given the drunken parties, the politburo organizes, that is a good idea, but the point is also to look at the jokes he made during the night with the other members of the Central Committee and cut the bad ones.

In the morning, the couple talk about his mumbling, he does not make sense when too drunk, and the wife says grenade…funny, train…not funny and this one is…Molotov h. h…it is not clear

Khrushchev wonders and asks his wife about the meaning, but then he understands he meant Molotov ch ch means the minister is on the black list, together with so many others that have been tortured and executed.

Later on, another humorous scene will involve Nikita K. and Molotov aka the great Michael Palin, talking in the bathroom of the latter, pulling the flush to cover their voices and prevent the NKVD from listening in.

When they come out they meet Lavrenti Beria, the head of the horrific Secret Police and they insult Molotov’s wife- “the treacherous sow, the guilty woman…” only to see her coming from behind the door.

Molotov and Nikita K. thought she had been sentenced and killed already, plus, these leaders of the party were actually scared stiff of each other, the NKVD, Stalin and their own shadow and changed tune all the time, a theme which makes for so much great, amusing material throughout the film.

There is a concert that Stalin wants to listen to and to record it we have the usual harassment and brutality of these communists, but there is a dissident, a pianist who inserts a courageous message to the absolute tyrant within the record with the classical music and which might be the end of the dictator.

Stalin reads that document and he first laughs to find someone as absurd as to wish him dead, only to suffer from a heart attack or some other ailment, which sends him to the ground with a thud.

However, the guards are too afraid to enter and see what, if anything is wrong and the cruelty of this mass murderer helps bring about his end, for rather than face execution, the soldiers stay at their post.

The next day, the Politburo have the same cautious attitude that condemns the leader, who, with some medical help might have survived, but his communist comrades talk about organizing a…meeting to see about the doctor.

Finally, when they decide that they need a physician, there is more hilarity combined with tragedy, for the only doctors left in town are the bad ones, the others have been killed or sent to the gulag…

When they finally line up a few doctors, Stalin’s daughter rightfully says that they look like mental patients.

Infighting follows and unbeknownst to this viewer it is not Khrushchev that takes the reins of power.

Not for a good while anyway.

The unfamiliar Georgy Malenkov aka Jeffrey Tambor- accused alas recently of sexual misconduct, but terrific in this and almost all the other roles he has had- takes power, albeit he is a weakling.

He has quite a few memorable lines, one of which has him refuting his early statement that makes him look ridiculous:

                I said…no problem

Nevertheless, what I actually meant was….No! Followed by a long pause and the strong…Problem!!

Of course, given the inspiration- a comic book- and the lack of credible material that would record discussions between the various, colliding factions of the Politburo, Army and NKVD- later to become the homicidal, now ruling the country KGB, the narrative of The Death of Stalin has to use artistic license.

                However, it is a triumphant motion picture!!