State Funeral

In the imposing shadow of Joseph Stalin's grandiose funeral, the enigma of his personality cult is revealed in a breathtaking spectacle of tradition and political history. Shot on archive footage shot in the USSR on March 5-9, 1953, this documentary film is a testament to the enduring power of the archivists' art, as it captures the solemn procession of dignitaries from home and abroad who came to pay their respects to the deceased dictator. With an all-star cast that includes Stalin himself, Nikita Khrushchev, and Georgy Malenkov, this film is a chilling look at life under a totalitarian regime.