Show Notes
Kristaps Andrejsons, journalist and host of The Eastern Border podcast, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this documentary which provides a startling insight into the cult of personality surrounding Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. STATE FUNERAL is now showing on MUBI. You can claim your free 30-day trial of their incredible film streaming service by visiting: https://mubi.com/russiansovietpod - Ally's MUBI recommendations CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, we discuss the violence of the Soviet state under Joseph Stalin. If you're listening from the UK, you can pick up a copy of The Last Days of Stalin by Joshua Rubenstein, It's Only a Joke, Comrade by Jonathan Waterlow, or another book from the wide selection in our uk.bookshop.org virtual affiliate bookshop. 10% of the sale will go towards the running of the show, and another 10% will go towards supporting independent bookshops around the country. There's also our www.rusandsov.com affiliate store where you can get t-shirts, wall posters, coffee mugs, and more with a Russian and or Soviet theme. If you use the promo code RUSSOPHILESUNITE at check out, you'll get 10% off, and they ship locally in the US, the EU, and Australia. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast The show's intro music is Cold by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants. You can find more of their music at: https://thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/ or on Spotify. If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, it would be great to hear from you! Here are some ways you can do that: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite Instagram: www.instagram.com/russophiles_unite/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI
More from A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast with Ally Pitts
To celebrate Silent Movie Day—29th September every year!—host Ally Pitts shares a favourite episode from his podcasting archive. Back in 2021, deep in the Covid-19 pandemic he guested on Media-eval: A Medieval Pop-Culture Podcast, hosted by historian Dr. Sarah Ifft-Decker. Ally also trails that the next regular episode of A Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast will be about Lev Kuleshov's 1926 gothic western masterpiece By the Law. Support Ally's film & culture work, keep the show on the road etc. patreon.com/cw/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc UK & Republic of Ireland folks, you can support the show by buying from Ally's bookshop.org affiliate shop. Folks elsewhere, please have a browse and get inspiration for what you might want to pick up from your nearest independent bookshop! uk.bookshop.org/shop/russian-soviet-movie-podcast Buy The Story of Film by Mark Cousins (hardback) from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop Buy The Story of Film by Mark Cousins (audiobook) from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop Buy The Fruit of Her Hands Jewish and Christian Women’s Work in Medieval Catalan Cities by Dr Sarah Ifft-Decker from from Ally's UK bookshop.org affiliate shop More links! Event listings by US state & by countries besides the US: https://silentmovieday.org/participate-1 https://silentmovieday.org/about-nsmd Ultimate Picture Palace Oxford: https://uppcinema.com/show/a-page-of-madness-live-score/Her Head in Films episode on The Passion of Joan of Arc https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/69-realized-mysticism-in-the-passion-of-joan-of-arc Socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts YouTube: youtube.com/@russiansovietmoviepodcastLetterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
29th September is Silent Movie Day, which means cinemas/movie theaters around the world will be showing some of the best surviving films from this incredible era of film!In this mini-sode, host Ally Pitts also trails that the next regular episode of the show will be about Lev Kuleshov's 1926 gothic western masterpiece By the Law.Links mentioned/alluded to in the episode:Event listings by US state & by countries besides the US: https://silentmovieday.org/participate-1 https://silentmovieday.org/about-nsmd Ultimate Picture Palace Oxford: https://uppcinema.com/show/a-page-of-madness-live-score/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
Host and creator Ally Pitts outlines what you can expect from the podcast, shares why he started it, and his experience of making the show since 2017. He signposts some popular episodes to get you started.He also outlines the show's position on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. Short version: the show stands with Ukraine.This trailer was written, recorded, and released late August 2026. Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser
Ally Pitts will be introducing Silents Synched's R.E.M. x Sherlock Jr, directed by Buster Keaton at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford on Monday 27th July '26 as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026.Besides this show, Ally co-hosts Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. track-by-track podcast with Lyn Seren.More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/oxford-comedy-festival-2026/ https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows https://www.silentsynced.com/ https://silentmovieday.org/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: [email protected]
Ally Pitts will be introducing Silents Synched's R.E.M. x Sherlock Jr, directed by Buster Keaton at the Ultimate Picture Palace in Oxford on Monday 27th July '26 as part of the Oxford Comedy Festival 2026.Besides this show, Ally co-hosts Gentlemen Don't Get Caught: An R.E.M. track-by-track podcast with Lyn Seren.More links mentioned/alluded to in the episode: https://uppcinema.com/show_type/oxford-comedy-festival-2026/ https://oxfordcomedyfestival.co.uk/ourshows https://www.silentsynced.com/ https://silentmovieday.org/ Contact us/socials: All the links for a Russian & Soviet Movie Podcast and Ally Pitts you're ever likely to want or need: linktr.ee/russiansovietmoviepodcastlinktr.ee/ally_pitts We changed the name of the show quite a while back, but the social handles/contacts are a bit of a mishmash. Letterboxd: letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Instagram: instagram.com/russiansovietmoviepodcast/ instagram.com/allypittsmoviesbooksmusicetc/ Listen to Ally's other podcast appearances on Podchaser Email: [email protected]