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* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently "beat the shit out of him." Even his children with Nadezhda aren't safe: he had Vasily, a frequent drunk when he grew up, imprisoned because he hoped a prison cell would help him sober up and warned his daughter Svetlana that he has people watching her moves.
to:
* AbusiveParents: AbusiveParents:
** Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." "
** Stalin also recalls his own childhood inhow which his dad would frequently "beat the shit out of him." "
** Even his children with Nadezhda aren't safe: he had Vasily, a frequent drunk when he grew up, imprisoned because he hoped a prison cell would help him soberup up, and he warned his daughter Svetlana that he has people watching her moves.
** Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]].
** Stalin also recalls his own childhood in
** Even his children with Nadezhda aren't safe: he had Vasily, a frequent drunk when he grew up, imprisoned because he hoped a prison cell would help him sober
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* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently "beat the shit out of him." Even his children with Nadezhda aren't safe: he had Vasily, a frequent drunk when he grew up, imprisoned because he hoped a prison cell would help him sober up and warned his daughter Svetlana that he has people watching her move.
to:
* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently "beat the shit out of him." Even his children with Nadezhda aren't safe: he had Vasily, a frequent drunk when he grew up, imprisoned because he hoped a prison cell would help him sober up and warned his daughter Svetlana that he has people watching her move.moves.
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* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently "beat the shit out of him."
to:
* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently "beat the shit out of him."" Even his children with Nadezhda aren't safe: he had Vasily, a frequent drunk when he grew up, imprisoned because he hoped a prison cell would help him sober up and warned his daughter Svetlana that he has people watching her move.
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'''''Stalin''''' is an Creator/{{HBO}} {{Biopic}} about UsefulNotes/JosefStalin, beginning with the initial success of the [[UsefulNotes/RedOctober Bolshevik Revolution in Russia]]. It depicts how Stalin [[TyrantTakesTheHelm took power]] following the death of UsefulNotes/VladimirLenin and consolidated power through the brutal collectivization policy and [[ThePurge the Great Purges]]. The movie also focuses on Stalin's personal life, most notably his wife Nadezdha, who ultimately kills herself because of how brutal and twisted Stalin becomes.
to:
'''''Stalin''''' is an Creator/{{HBO}} {{Biopic}} about UsefulNotes/JosefStalin, beginning with the initial success of the [[UsefulNotes/RedOctober Bolshevik Revolution in Russia]]. It depicts how Stalin [[TyrantTakesTheHelm took power]] following the death of UsefulNotes/VladimirLenin and consolidated power through the brutal collectivization policy and [[ThePurge the Great Purges]]. The movie also focuses on Stalin's personal life, most notably his relationship with his wife Nadezdha, who ultimately kills herself because of how brutal and twisted Stalin becomes.
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* FaceDeathWithDignity: Played straight by Bukharin, who writes Stalin a note before being executed. Directly invoked by Kamenev, who tells Zinoviev to die as men who stood with Lenin. Zinoviev nevertheless completely subverts this, [[InelegantBlubbering screaming, crying]], and [[PrayerIsALastResort ultimately praying]] as he is about to be shot.
to:
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Played straight by Bukharin, who writes Stalin a note before being executed. Directly invoked by Kamenev, who tells Zinoviev to die as men who stood with Lenin. Zinoviev nevertheless completely subverts this, [[InelegantBlubbering screaming, crying]], and [[PrayerIsALastResort [[SayYourPrayers ultimately praying]] as he is about to be shot.
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* SayYourPrayers: Zinoviev's final act before being executed is praying.
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This trope fits better
* EnemyMine: Stalin initially forms an alliance with Kamenev and Zinoviev against Trotsky, but later betrays them.
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* PowerTrio: Stalin initially forms an alliance with Kamenev and Zinoviev against Trotsky, but later betrays them.
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The movie stars Creator/RobertDuvall (as Stalin) and Julia Ormond (as Nadezdha).
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The movie stars Creator/RobertDuvall (as Stalin) and Julia Ormond Creator/JuliaOrmond (as Nadezdha).
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* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Many of the peasants believe that Stalin didn’t know about the brutal collectivization policies, and that if he did he would put a stop to them.
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* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Many of the peasants believe that Stalin didn’t know about the brutal collectivization policies, and that if he did he would put a stop to them. Some of their leaders try to tell Stalin directly about what's going on; his only response is to critique them for coming up with complaints instead of solutions, and have the secret police arrest them the moment he's left.
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* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The closing text of the movie tells how Beria is arrested, tried, and executed by his former colleagues, and Stalin’s daughter Svetlana ultimately defects from the Soviet Union.
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* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The closing text of the movie tells how Beria is arrested, tried, and executed by his former colleagues, and Stalin’s daughter Svetlana ultimately defects from the Soviet Union.Union.
* YouWouldntShootMe: Sergo Ordzhonikidze discovers that his brother has been tortured into giving false testimony against him. He grabs a pistol to shoot Stalin, who just says that he won't shoot because then Russia would fall into chaos, the fascists would invade and Sergo would go down in history as the man who betrayed Russia, and his family would suffer the consequences. If he shoots himself however, his death would be declared a heart attack and he would be buried with honours. Stalin then turns his back on him and walks out the door, pausing briefly on the stairs as [[SoundOnlyDeath he hears a gunshot]].
* YouWouldntShootMe: Sergo Ordzhonikidze discovers that his brother has been tortured into giving false testimony against him. He grabs a pistol to shoot Stalin, who just says that he won't shoot because then Russia would fall into chaos, the fascists would invade and Sergo would go down in history as the man who betrayed Russia, and his family would suffer the consequences. If he shoots himself however, his death would be declared a heart attack and he would be buried with honours. Stalin then turns his back on him and walks out the door, pausing briefly on the stairs as [[SoundOnlyDeath he hears a gunshot]].
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* CorruptBureaucrat: Stalin rises to power through his position as General Secretary, the head of the Communist Party’s bureaucracy, which his rivals—most notably, UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky—didn't view as important. Lenin even tries to give the job to Trotsky, but Trotsky considers it beneath him and tells Lenin, "[[HoistedByHisOwnPetard Saddle a mule with it. Saddle Stalin]]."
to:
* CorruptBureaucrat: Stalin rises to power through his position as General Secretary, the head of the Communist Party’s bureaucracy, which his rivals—most notably, UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky—didn't view as important. Lenin even tries to give the job to Trotsky, but Trotsky considers it beneath him and tells Lenin, "[[HoistedByHisOwnPetard Saddle "Saddle a mule with it. Saddle Stalin]].Stalin."
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* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently “beat the shit out of him.”
to:
* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]." Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently “beat "beat the shit out of him.”"
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* CorruptBureaucrat: Stalin rises to power through his position as General Secretary, the head of the Communist Party’s bureaucracy, which his rivals—most notably, UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky—didn't view as important. Lenin even tries to give the job to Trotsky, but Trotsky considers it beneath him and tells Lenin, "Saddle a mule with it. Saddle Stalin."
to:
* CorruptBureaucrat: Stalin rises to power through his position as General Secretary, the head of the Communist Party’s bureaucracy, which his rivals—most notably, UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky—didn't view as important. Lenin even tries to give the job to Trotsky, but Trotsky considers it beneath him and tells Lenin, "Saddle "[[HoistedByHisOwnPetard Saddle a mule with it. Saddle Stalin.Stalin]]."
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* FaceDeathWithDignity: Played straight by Bukharin, who writes Stalin a note before being executed. Directly invoked by Kamenev, who tells Zinoviev to die as men who stood with Lenin. Zinoviev nevertheless completely subverts this, screaming, crying, and ultimately praying as he is about to be shot.
to:
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Played straight by Bukharin, who writes Stalin a note before being executed. Directly invoked by Kamenev, who tells Zinoviev to die as men who stood with Lenin. Zinoviev nevertheless completely subverts this, [[InelegantBlubbering screaming, crying, crying]], and [[PrayerIsALastResort ultimately praying praying]] as he is about to be shot.
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* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]."
to:
* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]."" Stalin also recalls his own childhood in how his dad would frequently “beat the shit out of him.”
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The movie stars Robert Duvall (as Stalin) and Julia Ormond (as Nadezdha).
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The movie stars Robert Duvall Creator/RobertDuvall (as Stalin) and Julia Ormond (as Nadezdha).
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[[quoteright:235:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/stalin_1992_film.jpg]]
->''"Our history required Stalin."''
-->-- '''Vyacheslav Molotov'''
'''''Stalin''''' is an Creator/{{HBO}} {{Biopic}} about UsefulNotes/JosefStalin, beginning with the initial success of the [[UsefulNotes/RedOctober Bolshevik Revolution in Russia]]. It depicts how Stalin [[TyrantTakesTheHelm took power]] following the death of UsefulNotes/VladimirLenin and consolidated power through the brutal collectivization policy and [[ThePurge the Great Purges]]. The movie also focuses on Stalin's personal life, most notably his wife Nadezdha, who ultimately kills herself because of how brutal and twisted Stalin becomes.
The movie stars Robert Duvall (as Stalin) and Julia Ormond (as Nadezdha).
!!This film has examples of:
* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]."
* AdaptedOut: Many of Stalin’s leading subordinates are not included in the movie, most notably Georgi Malenkov, who succeeds Stalin as General Secretary. Also absent are Anastos Mikoyan and Andrei Zhdanov, who were especially high-ranking throughout much fo Stalin's rule. UsefulNotes/WorldWarII also receives scant attention in the movie, and neither General Georgi Zhukov, who led Soviet forces during the war, or Allied leaders UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill or UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt make an appearance.
* AffectionateNickname: Stalin’s previous underground alias was Koba, after a famous Georgian revolutionary. He changes it to Stalin, but says that for old comrades he will always be known as Koba.
* AlasPoorVillain: Stalin’s underlings (except Beria) are truly saddened over his death, even as they realize this will make their lives easier. Stalin's maid is especially distraught by his death.
* BadBoss: Stalin [[ThePurge executes many of his subordinates]] and enjoys humiliating those who survive.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Defense Commisar Kliment Voroshilov boldly calls out Stalin for purging the military and trusting UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler after Stalin tries to blame Voroshilov for [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII the German invasion]]. Voroshilov [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone immediately recognizes that he has likely signed his own death warrant]], but amazingly survives because Stalin has a VillainousBreakdown and never gives the order for Voroshilov’s execution. [[RealityIsUnrealistic This actually happened]], though Voroshilov was ultimately removed as Defense Commisar, because he really was quite incompetent.
-->'''Voroshilov''': Who killed off all our best generals, forty thousand of our best officers, called them enemies of the people, had them shot? Who trusted Hitler, who said he would not attack us?! Voroshilov?! No. It was you. ''[[RepeatedForEmphasis It was you!]]''
* CorruptBureaucrat: Stalin rises to power through his position as General Secretary, the head of the Communist Party’s bureaucracy, which his rivals—most notably, UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky—didn't view as important. Lenin even tries to give the job to Trotsky, but Trotsky considers it beneath him and tells Lenin, "Saddle a mule with it. Saddle Stalin."
* DemotedToExtra: Vyaschlev Molotov, Stalin's No. 2 during his entire time in power (except his last few years), and Lazar Kaganovich, his Industrial minister and general hatchet man, both receive little screen time. The movie focuses more on Stalin's broken relationships—with Nadezdha, Bukharin, and Ordzhonikidze—than his more long-lasting ones.[[note]]Though in RealLife, Stalin has Molotov's wife arrested and is preparing to have Kaganovich's brother arrested and executed until Kaganovich tells his brother to kill himself instead.[[/note]]
* DrivenToSuicide: Both Nadezdha and Ordzhonikidze kill themselves as they become terribly disillusioned with what Stalin [[FullCircleRevolution has become]].
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Played straight by Bukharin, who writes Stalin a note before being executed. Directly invoked by Kamenev, who tells Zinoviev to die as men who stood with Lenin. Zinoviev nevertheless completely subverts this, screaming, crying, and ultimately praying as he is about to be shot.
* FalseFlagOperation: Stalin orders Kirov’s assassination as a way of providing an excuse for [[ThePurge the Great Purges]] of the Soviet Communist Party.
* FullCircleRevolution: The major arc of the movie is how Stalin becomes even more brutal and tyrannical than the tsarist regime that the Bolsheviks overthrew. Nadezdha calls Stalin out for celebrating the Revolution even as millions of peasants starve, are imprisoned, and have their land taken away. Stalin sees all this as necessary to maintaining power and achieving national industrialization.
-->'''Kamenev''': Koba, let me tell you from experience we share that the Tsar's police were gentle compared to –
-->'''Stalin''': [[ArmorPiercingQuestion And where is the Tsar now?]]
* GilliganCut: A dramatic example. Stalin extracts false confessions from Kamenev and Zinoviev with the promise that they and their families’ lives would be spared. The scene cuts from them walking out of Stalin's office to being in prison on their way to execution.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Bukharin, whose political alliance with Stalin against Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev is glossed over. Rather, he is portrayed as the good Communist, a narrative promoted by the UsefulNotes/MikhailGorbachev’s regime as a way to envision a Soviet Communism without Stalin.
* KlingonPromotion: Yezhov replaces Yagoda as head of the StateSec forces after Stalin accuses of Yagoda of plotting against him. Stalin then replaces Yezhov with Beria after Yezhov [[YouHaveFailedMe fails to get Bukharin to confess]].
* MayDecemberRomance: Stalin was 23 years older than Nadezdha and was friends with her parents when she was a child. Nadezdha even recounts childhood memories of him as an adult playing with her.
* ObnoxiousInLaws: Nadezdha’s mother Olga is critical of Stalin throughout the entire movie, both because of his policies and his treatment of her daughter. However, his father-in-law Sergei subverts this, standing by Stalin on both issues. Stalin lampshades this at Sergei’s funeral, and Sergei is the only person in the movie who Stalin is consistently nice to.
* PowerTrio: Stalin initially forms an alliance with Kamenev and Zinoviev against Trotsky, but later betrays them.
* ThePurge: Much of the movie is devoted to the Great Purges, in which Stalin has many of his former allies and colleagues arrested, tried, and executed.
* TheRival: UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky, even after Stalin successfully has Trotsky exiled.
* TheStarscream: Beria, who spits at Stalin as Stalin lays dying. Beria is also the only subordinate who doesn’t cry at Stalin's death.
* VillainProtagonist: UsefulNotes/JosefStalin
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Many of the peasants believe that Stalin didn’t know about the brutal collectivization policies, and that if he did he would put a stop to them.
* VillainousBreakdown: Stalin has a major one after the German invasion of the Soviet Union. He only recovers when Molotov and Voroshilov (who had previously [[CallingTheOldManOut called him out for trusting Hitler]]) come to ask him to return and retake leadership.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The closing text of the movie tells how Beria is arrested, tried, and executed by his former colleagues, and Stalin’s daughter Svetlana ultimately defects from the Soviet Union.
->''"Our history required Stalin."''
-->-- '''Vyacheslav Molotov'''
'''''Stalin''''' is an Creator/{{HBO}} {{Biopic}} about UsefulNotes/JosefStalin, beginning with the initial success of the [[UsefulNotes/RedOctober Bolshevik Revolution in Russia]]. It depicts how Stalin [[TyrantTakesTheHelm took power]] following the death of UsefulNotes/VladimirLenin and consolidated power through the brutal collectivization policy and [[ThePurge the Great Purges]]. The movie also focuses on Stalin's personal life, most notably his wife Nadezdha, who ultimately kills herself because of how brutal and twisted Stalin becomes.
The movie stars Robert Duvall (as Stalin) and Julia Ormond (as Nadezdha).
!!This film has examples of:
* AbusiveParents: Stalin treats his son Yakhov (from his first marriage) terribly, not even telling his second wife Nadezdha about him. When Yakhov tries to shoot himself, Stalin mocks him for missing. When Yakhov is captured by German forces, Stalin responds, "[[IHaveNoSon I have no son Yakhov]]."
* AdaptedOut: Many of Stalin’s leading subordinates are not included in the movie, most notably Georgi Malenkov, who succeeds Stalin as General Secretary. Also absent are Anastos Mikoyan and Andrei Zhdanov, who were especially high-ranking throughout much fo Stalin's rule. UsefulNotes/WorldWarII also receives scant attention in the movie, and neither General Georgi Zhukov, who led Soviet forces during the war, or Allied leaders UsefulNotes/WinstonChurchill or UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt make an appearance.
* AffectionateNickname: Stalin’s previous underground alias was Koba, after a famous Georgian revolutionary. He changes it to Stalin, but says that for old comrades he will always be known as Koba.
* AlasPoorVillain: Stalin’s underlings (except Beria) are truly saddened over his death, even as they realize this will make their lives easier. Stalin's maid is especially distraught by his death.
* BadBoss: Stalin [[ThePurge executes many of his subordinates]] and enjoys humiliating those who survive.
* CallingTheOldManOut: Defense Commisar Kliment Voroshilov boldly calls out Stalin for purging the military and trusting UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler after Stalin tries to blame Voroshilov for [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII the German invasion]]. Voroshilov [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone immediately recognizes that he has likely signed his own death warrant]], but amazingly survives because Stalin has a VillainousBreakdown and never gives the order for Voroshilov’s execution. [[RealityIsUnrealistic This actually happened]], though Voroshilov was ultimately removed as Defense Commisar, because he really was quite incompetent.
-->'''Voroshilov''': Who killed off all our best generals, forty thousand of our best officers, called them enemies of the people, had them shot? Who trusted Hitler, who said he would not attack us?! Voroshilov?! No. It was you. ''[[RepeatedForEmphasis It was you!]]''
* CorruptBureaucrat: Stalin rises to power through his position as General Secretary, the head of the Communist Party’s bureaucracy, which his rivals—most notably, UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky—didn't view as important. Lenin even tries to give the job to Trotsky, but Trotsky considers it beneath him and tells Lenin, "Saddle a mule with it. Saddle Stalin."
* DemotedToExtra: Vyaschlev Molotov, Stalin's No. 2 during his entire time in power (except his last few years), and Lazar Kaganovich, his Industrial minister and general hatchet man, both receive little screen time. The movie focuses more on Stalin's broken relationships—with Nadezdha, Bukharin, and Ordzhonikidze—than his more long-lasting ones.[[note]]Though in RealLife, Stalin has Molotov's wife arrested and is preparing to have Kaganovich's brother arrested and executed until Kaganovich tells his brother to kill himself instead.[[/note]]
* DrivenToSuicide: Both Nadezdha and Ordzhonikidze kill themselves as they become terribly disillusioned with what Stalin [[FullCircleRevolution has become]].
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Played straight by Bukharin, who writes Stalin a note before being executed. Directly invoked by Kamenev, who tells Zinoviev to die as men who stood with Lenin. Zinoviev nevertheless completely subverts this, screaming, crying, and ultimately praying as he is about to be shot.
* FalseFlagOperation: Stalin orders Kirov’s assassination as a way of providing an excuse for [[ThePurge the Great Purges]] of the Soviet Communist Party.
* FullCircleRevolution: The major arc of the movie is how Stalin becomes even more brutal and tyrannical than the tsarist regime that the Bolsheviks overthrew. Nadezdha calls Stalin out for celebrating the Revolution even as millions of peasants starve, are imprisoned, and have their land taken away. Stalin sees all this as necessary to maintaining power and achieving national industrialization.
-->'''Kamenev''': Koba, let me tell you from experience we share that the Tsar's police were gentle compared to –
-->'''Stalin''': [[ArmorPiercingQuestion And where is the Tsar now?]]
* GilliganCut: A dramatic example. Stalin extracts false confessions from Kamenev and Zinoviev with the promise that they and their families’ lives would be spared. The scene cuts from them walking out of Stalin's office to being in prison on their way to execution.
* HistoricalHeroUpgrade: Bukharin, whose political alliance with Stalin against Trotsky, Kamenev and Zinoviev is glossed over. Rather, he is portrayed as the good Communist, a narrative promoted by the UsefulNotes/MikhailGorbachev’s regime as a way to envision a Soviet Communism without Stalin.
* KlingonPromotion: Yezhov replaces Yagoda as head of the StateSec forces after Stalin accuses of Yagoda of plotting against him. Stalin then replaces Yezhov with Beria after Yezhov [[YouHaveFailedMe fails to get Bukharin to confess]].
* MayDecemberRomance: Stalin was 23 years older than Nadezdha and was friends with her parents when she was a child. Nadezdha even recounts childhood memories of him as an adult playing with her.
* ObnoxiousInLaws: Nadezdha’s mother Olga is critical of Stalin throughout the entire movie, both because of his policies and his treatment of her daughter. However, his father-in-law Sergei subverts this, standing by Stalin on both issues. Stalin lampshades this at Sergei’s funeral, and Sergei is the only person in the movie who Stalin is consistently nice to.
* PowerTrio: Stalin initially forms an alliance with Kamenev and Zinoviev against Trotsky, but later betrays them.
* ThePurge: Much of the movie is devoted to the Great Purges, in which Stalin has many of his former allies and colleagues arrested, tried, and executed.
* TheRival: UsefulNotes/LeonTrotsky, even after Stalin successfully has Trotsky exiled.
* TheStarscream: Beria, who spits at Stalin as Stalin lays dying. Beria is also the only subordinate who doesn’t cry at Stalin's death.
* VillainProtagonist: UsefulNotes/JosefStalin
* VillainWithGoodPublicity: Many of the peasants believe that Stalin didn’t know about the brutal collectivization policies, and that if he did he would put a stop to them.
* VillainousBreakdown: Stalin has a major one after the German invasion of the Soviet Union. He only recovers when Molotov and Voroshilov (who had previously [[CallingTheOldManOut called him out for trusting Hitler]]) come to ask him to return and retake leadership.
* WhereAreTheyNowEpilogue: The closing text of the movie tells how Beria is arrested, tried, and executed by his former colleagues, and Stalin’s daughter Svetlana ultimately defects from the Soviet Union.
