Name: Comrade: The Making, Glory and Unmaking of a Dictator
Genre: Documentary
Released: 2023-12-06
Rating: 8.2
Cast: Nicolae Ceaușescu, Elena Ceaușescu, Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter

The dictator who fooled the West, starved his people, and died singing.

Mini Series

archival deep-divepolitical horrordelusional grandeur

Latest Episode

50 min

Season 1 • Episode 3

Latest

Episode 3: The Unmaking

Dec 20, 2023

Overview

Documentary

In-depth documentary mini-series presenting the rise, rule and fall of communist Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu and the way he shaped both Romanian and international history.

RO Romanian

Content warning

Standout Aspects

Direction

Poots lets archive footage indict itself brutally.

Editing

Juxtaposition of Western praise versus domestic terror.

Production

Rare access to Romanian state television archives.

Best for:Solo·Binge·Background

Heads up:Disturbing·Emotional

Creator

Trevor Poots

First AiredDec 6, 2023

StatusEnded

Vibe

Pacesteady

Intensityhigh

Tonedark

Feelheavy

Seasons1·Episodes3

Top Cast

Nicolae Ceaușescu

Self (archive footage)

Elena Ceaușescu

Self (archive footage)

Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej

Self (archive footage)

John F. Kennedy

Self (archive footage)

Jimmy Carter

Self (archive footage)

Richard Nixon

Self (archive footage)

Mikhail Gorbachev

Self (archive footage)

Nikita Khrushchev

Self (archive footage)

Kim Il-sung

Self (archive footage)

Ask about Comrade: The Making, Glory and Unmaking of a Dictator

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Ceaușescu was the last Eastern European leader to visit the White House before his fall—Jimmy Carter hosted him in 1978 despite knowing about Romania's forced industrialization food shortages.

Cultural

The documentary's title 'Comrade' deliberately echoes how Ceaușescu demanded to be addressed while simultaneously exposing the hollowness of that solidarity.

Gallery