An Ordinary Execution (2010)

Moscow, 1952. Anna is taken to the Kremlin where she has to cure Stanlin himself. She needs to keep the secret at all costs and as her relationship with the URSS leader grows, her couple with Vassilli tumbles.

Director:

Marc Dugain

Writers:

Marc Dugain (novel), Marc Dugain (story)

Stars:

André Dussollier, Marina Hands, Edouard Baer

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
André Dussollier	...	Joseph Staline
Marina Hands	...	Anna
Edouard Baer	...	Vassilli
Denis Podalydès	...	Le concierge
Tom Novembre	...	Le directeur de l'hôpital
Grégory Gadebois	...	Le chef de service
Gilles Gaston-Dreyfus	...	Beria
Anne Benoît	...	Alexandra, la mère d'Anna
Marie Payen	...	Patiente Anna 1
Amandine Dewasmes	...	Patiente Anna 2
Régis Romele	...	Docteur Gregoriev (as Régis Romélé)
Gilles Ségal	...	Oncle Anton
Vincent Ozanon	...	Milicien 1
Horatiu Bob	...	Militien 2
Denis Falgoux	...	Secrétaire Kremlin

Storyline

Moscow, 1952. Anna is a doctor, Vassilli serves in a local administration. Life is grim but they find solace in unconditional love. One day Anna is taken to the Kremlin where she has to cure Stanlin himself. She needs to keep the secret at all costs and as her relationship with the URSS leader grows, her couple with Vassilli tumbles.

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Plot Keywords:

cyanide capsule | wife leaves husband | anti semitism | doctor | aging | 

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the first scene in the cinema, Stalin is watching The Spoilers (1942). In the second scene in the cinema, all that is seen is the final shot of a film - a title card with the words, "The End" superimposed on a map of Alaska. This would appear to be from "The Spoilers" as this film is set in Alaska. So, with either Stalin was watching same film again or the film-makers twice used clips from the one film to give the impression that he watched many American films.

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Goofs

The film shows a gas stove in the apartment. First gas stoves were released in the USSR by November 7, 1958. In the USSR, the Five-Year Economic Development Plan in the 1966 - 1970 for the first time it has been set targets for housing gasification of the country : to increase the level of gasification of homes in urban areas up to 50 - 55 % and up to 20 to 25% in rural areas.

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Connections

References The Great Dictator (1940)

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Soundtracks

Concerto No 2 for Piano and Orchestra, Opus 102
Written by Dmitri Shostakovich (as Dimitri Chostakovich)
Performed by Alexandr Dmitriev (as Alexandre Dmitriev) and Vladimir Krainev, piano

User Reviews

useful

a case. who defines an entire period. a film about Soviet Union under Stalin . and a beautiful introduction to the atmosphere of regime. far to be great, it is one of films who reminds, in correct manner, a great tragedy. ideal for discover the rules, logic and cynicism of Soviet power, for defines a leader who could be hero in some from East Europe regions, for the tension of a fight, for the essence of fear as the most convincing rule, for the image of woman in the heart of dictatorship, for a remarkable portrait of Stalin and for its end who is the definition of an entire process. a film who only suggest the tragedy of Communism. in correct manner, only too cold but useful as point of research about crimes and about high cynicism of a war against yours citizens.

Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

3 February 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

An Ordinary Execution

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Box Office

Budget:

EUR8,483,818 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,276,892

Company Credits

Production Co:

F Comme Film, StudioCanal, France 3 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1