Bonus - The state funeral of Josef Stalin (179)

Cold War Conversations

This episode is sponsored by MUBI, a curated streaming service with an ever-changing collection of hand-picked cinema. From new directors to award-winners. From everywhere on earth. Beautiful, interesting, incredible films — with a new one added every single day.

Right now on MUBI, you can watch STATE FUNERAL, an astonishing archival vision of the Soviet Union in the days after Joseph Stalin’s death. The film is followed by a Q&A with director Sergei Loznitsa in conversation with Pietro Marcello (Martin Eden).

James Chilcott, Peter Ryan and I had exclusive access to a preview version and in today’s episode we discuss our thoughts on the film.

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0:00 Introduction and Sponsor: Mubi

0:44 Discussion on the film "State Funeral" and first impressions

6:06 Power dynamics after Stalin's death and potential successors

10:27 Observations on foreign delegations and British Communist Party's delegation

14:26 Analysis of the film's cinematography and reactions to Stalin's death

19:10 Origin and unseen footage of the film

20:24 Influence of the film on younger generations

22:48 Personal anecdotes and the fate of Stalin's family members

28:53 Review of the film and Sponsor: Mubi

31:14 Insights into the life of average Soviet citizens and stereotypes

35:23 Body language in the film and reflections on the speeches

39:31 The film as a representation of Soviet Union in 1953 and recommendation

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