THE DEATH OF STALIN

Cert 15 ★★★★★

Digital Monday, disc February 26 The funniest film of 2017, this outrageous and brilliant historical satirical farce was deservedly nominated for Outstanding British Film at the BAFTAs.

Simon Russell Beale and Steve Buscemi are on inspired form as members of the government competing for power in 1953’s Moscow. All the actors keep their natural accents except Jason Isaacs, who plays the head of the Red Army as a no-nonsense northern hard case. Or more accurately, a Yorkshireman.

Written and directed by the brilliant Armando Iannucci, who made TV’s The Thick of It, this is fiercely sharp, terrifyingly believable and hilarious.