Russia Begins Filming a New Movie About Stalin, Reviving the Dictator's Legacy.

Production Begins on Stalin Film

According to TSN.ua: In Russia's Leningrad region, production has commenced on a new film about Joseph Stalin. This project aligns with a broader Kremlin effort to rehabilitate the image of the Soviet leader. Filming started on February 25, 2023, a date that marks the 70th anniversary of Nikita Khrushchev's 1956 speech at the 20th Congress of the Communist Party, where he denounced Stalin's cult of personality. The production will take place in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and along the Black Sea coast. This cinematic effort comes at a time when historical narratives are being actively shaped for political purposes.

Stalin's Enduring and Controversial Legacy in Modern Russia

Joseph Stalin, who died in 1953, remains one of the most divisive figures in Russian history. Since the year 2000, approximately one hundred monuments to Stalin have been erected across the country, with the trend accelerating after Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014. A recent example was the installation of a Stalin bas-relief in May 2022 at Moscow's 'Taganskaya' metro station.

Noted director Vladimir Bortko, commenting on Stalin's impact on Russia, stated: 'Over the last 30 years, much has been said about Joseph Vissarionovich. He built our country, whose legacy we continue to live off.' - Vladimir Bortko

These words underscore the perceived importance of Stalin's legacy in contemporary Russia, despite his deeply controversial reputation.

In December 2025, Vladimir Putin commented on restoring the Soviet Union, calling the idea 'senseless.' This statement, alongside new projects like the Stalin film, indicates that the Soviet leader's image remains a potent symbol in modern Russian political discourse. The film's production points to a continued trend of rehabilitating Stalin's image within Russian society, which may be part of a wider Kremlin strategy to shape national identity and legitimize current policies. In the context of recent events, including the military aggression against Ukraine, interpretations of Stalin's legacy can be used to stir patriotic sentiments among the population.