The Death of Stalin

In HBO’s hit show Veep, writer/creator Armando Iannucci brilliantly skewered our present-day American political system by spotlighting the absurd inanities inherent in it. With The Death of Stalin, Iannucci turns his talents to one of the 20th century’s defining geopolitical moments. When Stalin died in 1953, the Soviet Union’s other highest ranking officials all tried to seize total control for themselves, setting off a ludicrous chain of desperate power grabs and backstabbing schemes, many of which had lethal consequences. Using an all-star cast of beloved character actors—including Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, and Michael Palin—Iannucci hilariously reveals the depraved stupidity of these infamous political “strategists.” And if you look closely enough, you just might find some parallels to another, more current regime of incompetent authoritarians.