Just days to watch 'masterpiece' war film on Netflix dubbed 'height of accomplishment'

From the creative mind behind Alan Partridge, this dark comedy delves into the power dynamics of the remaining Soviet Union leaders following Stalin's demise. The Death of Stalin, released in 2017, presents a political narrative that is as humorous as it is grim.

As anticipated from Armando Iannucci, the genius behind The Thick of It, the film tackles the story with biting satire that mocks the absolute pandemonium after the Soviet leader's death. of The White Lotus fame, who portrays Georgy Zhukov, a Soviet marshal and prominent commander during World War Two.

Joining him on screen is comedy icon Steve Buscemi, who embodies former Soviet Union prime minister Nikita Khrushchev, while Sir Michael Palin plays foreign secretary Vyacheslav Molotov - who gave his name to a very particular cocktail.

Other notable appearances include Jeffrey Tambor from Arrested Development, Paul Whitehouse from The Fast Show, and Paddy Considine before his stint on House of the Dragon. Drawing from historical events, the satirical plot traces the aftermath of dictator Joseph Stalin's death in 1953 and the subsequent disarray within the Communist Party.

As contenders vie for the position of the new Soviet Union leader, they engage in fierce battles and betrayals to reach the top. But who will emerge victorious and assume the role of the powerful leader?

The film received stellar feedback, boasting a 95 per cent approval rating on movie review platform Rotten Tomatoes. Critics showered praise, with one saying: "This movie is so funny and so smart it restores my faith in what humanity is capable of. Forget going to the moon; this comedy may be the height of human accomplishment.

"Every time I see it, it gets better and better. The decision to have every actor use their actual accent is riotous."

The feature's use of authentic regional English dialects served as a unique approach, speculated to highlight the vast reach of the Soviet Empire. Notably, Jason Issacs's choice of a strong Yorkshire twang likely didn't mirror Georgy Zhukov's true voice.

Such creative choices earned accolades for the film's writers, with responses such as: "The movie is an absolute masterpiece of writing and acting. If you are from Eastern Europe, it's an excellent movie if you are familiar with the subject matter and a pretty damned good comedy if you are not."

When the witty political satire hit screens, it was nominated for BAFTAs and later snagged several accomplishments at the British Independent Film Awards. Despite the awards and nominations, some viewers found that the humour missed the mark.

A disgruntled review said: "It was like watching the best actors I've ever seen on a really poor day that had nothing to work with, as far as a script was concerned. I waited and waited for just one good shot of cerebral humour within the flat yammering but, unfortunately, got nothing."

Under the helm of renowned political satirist Armando Iannucci, who directed and wrote the screenplay in collaboration with comedic talents such as David Schneider, the film is hailed by many viewers as a "must-watch". One critic praised: "Iannucci has moved to the other side of the political spectrum for this barbed and witty movie. Who knew an execution could be so hilarious?".

Another lauded: "While it's another fantastic movie, I wish I had watched it earlier. What a great way to tackle an awful period of time."

Movie buffs have the opportunity to stream the critically acclaimed black comedy on Netflix now before it departs from the platform on April 30.