Joseph Stalin Origin Story Directed by Kornel Mundruczo
Hungarian filmmaker Kornél Mundruczó (Pieces of a Woman, White God) has signed on to direct The Revolution According to Kamo, an ambitious biopic on the early life of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
The feature is based on a script by Cold War director Pawel Pawlikowski and Ben Hopkins, co-writer of Kirill Serebrennikov’s Cannes competition entry Limonov: The Ballad of Eddie. The Revolution According to Kamo spans 30 years from 1891 to 1922, tracing the birth of one of history’s most murderous dictators as seen through the eyes of his devoted friend, ally, and henchman Kamo. The Georgian-language feature is being prepped for a 2025 shoot in Georgia.
“It’s less about a man being born evil, but about the mechanics of power and how one man rises to the top,” said Mundruczó. “But it’s also about a passionate friendship between these two men who knew each other since they were boys.”
“I was attracted to the script because we see one of the most brutal periods in history from the perspective of a true friend and comrade,” added Weber. “Rather than a biopic, the story presents a unique perspective in which we can see how power structures can corrupt even the purest of emotions.”
Executive producing are Mike Goodridge of Good Chaos, Ilya Stewart of Hype Studios, MK Productions, Komplizen Film, Madants, Proton Cinema and Takes Film. Pawlikowski and Tanya Seghatchian will also produce for their Apocalypso Pictures banner.
Mike Goodridge of Good Chaos is producing alongside France’s MK Productions, Komplizen Film in Germany, Poland’s Madants, Proton Cinema in Hungary and Tibilisi-based Takes Film. Pawlikowski and Tanya Seghatchian will also act as producers for Apocalypso Pictures. The script was originally developed with Film4.
