The coup that broke an empire — and the vodka-fueled incompetence that saved democracy.
Documentary telling the inside story of Communist hardliners' failed attempts to seize power from Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev, which resulted in the rapid collapse of the Soviet Union.
Direction
Brinkworth turns bureaucratic meetings into Hitchcockian suspense.
Production
Incredible access to raw Soviet TV broadcasts from the coup.
Director
Malcolm Brinkworth
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The plotters detained Gorbachev at his Crimean dacha but forgot to cut his satellite phone, letting him track events in real-time.
This footage of ordinary Muscovites facing down tanks became iconic imagery that accelerated independence movements across all fifteen Soviet republics.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
GB
