Armando Iannucci brings The Death of Stalin to GFT
Glaswegian satirist and the creator of The Thick of It Armando Iannucci screens new comedy The Death of Stalin at Glasgow Film Theatre and will take part in a Q&A following the film
Glasgow audiences will get the chance to see new comedy The Death of Stalin early as its writer-director, Armando Iannucci, is bringing the comedy to Glasgow Film Theatre on 11 October, a week before its national release.
The film follows the internal political machinations of Russia in 1953 following, as the title suggests, the death of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Like Iannucci's brilliant TV shows Veep and The Thick of It, and his debut feature In the Loop, The Death of Stalin is a look behind the curtain of a nation’s government to show the chaos, infighting and stupidity of the people in charge.
In this case, the members of the Soviet high command are played by an eclectic cast that includes Steve Buscemi, Jason Isaacs, Michael Palin, Simon Russell Beale, Paddy Considine and Jeffrey Tambor. The film received rave reviews when it premiered at Toronto Film Festival, and has reportedly ruffled feathers at The Kremlin, where it's been dubbed a "planned provocation".
Iannucci will give a Q&A following the film, which will act as a bit of a homecoming for the satirist, who was born and raised in Glasgow. Iannucci's previous film, In The Loop, had its UK premiere in Glasgow as the opening film of the 2009 Glasgow Film Festival, and if Iannucci is on the form as he was at that screening, Glasgow film fans are in for a treat.
The Death of Stalin previews at Glasgow Film Theatre on 11 Oct, 7pm; tickets are on sale now – head to glasgowfilm.org or the GFT box office. The film is on general release from 20 Oct.