
The tragic story of a Russian family forced to make life and death decisions during the Stalinist purges.
Directed by Lev Kulidzhanov, Not Afraid to Die leans on a strong ensemble — Olga Kabo, Mikhail Gluzskiy, Yuri Belyayev — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1991.
Read More on the Blog
Loading reviews…
In 16th-century Russia in the grip of chaos, Ivan the Terrible strongly believes he is vested with a holy mission. Believing he can understand and interpret the signs, he sees the Last Judgment approaching. He establishes absolute power, cruelly destroying anyone who gets in his way. During this reign of terror, Philip, the superior of the monastery on the Solovetsky Islands, a great scholar and Ivan's close friend, dares to oppose the sovereign's mystical tyranny. What follows is a clash between two completely opposite visions of the world, smashing morality and justice, God and men. A grand-scale film with excellent leading roles by Mamonov and Yankovsky. An allegory of Stalinist Russia
Get weekly picks and blog posts in your inbox.
Live availability isn't tracked for this title yet — try these popular platforms: