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Deep Dive: State Funeral (2019)

Film Lens

State Funeral
State Funeral is a documentary that examines the state funeral of Joseph Stalin, who led the Soviet Union from 1929 until his death in 1953. The film uses archival footage to present the ceremony and the political figures involved, including Lavrentiy Beria, Nikita Khrushchev, and Vyacheslav Molotov. The film captures the atmosphere of the event and the reactions of the public and officials during this significant historical moment. The documentary premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2019, and later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. It had a theatrical release in Lithuania on November 22, 2019, and a limited release in the United States on May 7, 2021. The film has received positive reviews, with an 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating a strong reception from critics.

Why Watch

  • See the state funeral of Joseph Stalin in archival footage.
  • Meet key Soviet leaders like Lavrentiy Beria and Vyacheslav Molotov.
  • Find out how the public reacted to Stalin's death.

Did You Know

The film premiered on September 6, 2019, at the Venice Film Festival.
State Funeral has an 88% approval rating based on 25 reviews.
The film has a runtime of 135 minutes.
It features archival footage of key figures like Joseph Stalin and Nikita Khrushchev.

Perfect For

Soviet history enthusiastsPolitical documentary fansCold War scholars