MOSCOW, January 26. /TASS/. It makes a lot of sense to ban the release of the movie ‘The Death of Stalin’ in Russia, states Maria Zhukova, a daughter of the legendary World War II commander, Marshal Georgy Zhukov.

The press service of the Russian Military-Historical Society quoted her as saying she did not have any doubts that the Culture Ministry’s decision to revoke the film’s distribution credentials was the only possible correct move in this case.

"This is an abominable film and an outrage against our history and our heroes, including my father," Zhukova emphasized. "The way all our people are shown there is simply insulting – first and foremost, for the family members of those whom the film depicts and for the veterans of World War II."

"I think that’s a provocation beyond any doubt, all the more so that the release of the film was timed for the 75th anniversary of completion of the Battle of Stalingrad," she said. "I’m appalled."

One of the reasons why this film should not be released in Russia is that "[…] we have quite a number of young people who are unable to make out all the twists and turns of our history on their own."

"They judge it incorrectly because the brainwashing that has been going on for the past 25 years has been intense and that’s why I think it’s rather dangerous to release films of the sort if you look at it in terms of the younger generation’s education," Zhukova noted. "We must educate our young using the examples of patriotism and films based on real events."

She was particularly incensed at the way the film depicts her father. The personage does not look a bit like the real Marshal Zhukov, not in the least because "[…] he uses obscene expressions or just plain profanity [Russian four-letter words - TASS]."
‘The Death of Stalin’ is a satirical film that dwells on a power struggle that arose in the Soviet Union immediately after Joseph Stalin’s death in March 1953. Prior to its scheduled first screening in Moscow, Russian film industry figures, State Duma MPs, members of the Russian Military-Historical Society, and members of the Culture Ministry’s Public Board attended a presentation, after which they asked the ministry to revoke the license provisionally.