Stalin's paranoia meets Hitler's blitzkrieg—history's most toxic bromance goes nuclear.
This is an interesting documentary about Stalin, his rise to power, and the invasion of the USSR by Germany in WWII. It's split into two parts, the first a general overview of the early history. The second part is the details of WWII and after. David Reynolds does an excellent job of explaining what happened with snippets from diaries, letters and other contemporaneous accounts. Well-assembled historical work.
Writing
Reynolds weaves diaries into nail-biting narrative.
Production
Archival footage that feels illegally intimate.
Director
Russell Barnes
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Reynolds filmed at Stalin's actual dacha—reportedly the first Western crew allowed inside since the Cold War.
The 'Man of Steel' title deliberately echoes Soviet propaganda while exposing its hollowness—Reynolds walks this tightrope throughout.
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