lyud1983

This is a funny movie. It's got some pretty good actors (I really like Steve Buscemi and Jason Isaacs) and the story is very well written. Overall, it's quite entertaining to watch, even if you're not really interested in the historical significance of the event which is at the center of the film.

But if you are curious about history, then this movie has got some insights to offer. The clique that surrounded Stalin was pretty much like a mafia family. They were all criminals - murderers, rapists, liars. They destroyed the lives of countless people to get to the top and stay there. They were gangsters, trying to survive the murderous reign of their capo, and secretly plotting against one another in order to inherit the family business.

Stalin and his cronies turned the Soviet government into a huge criminal enterprise, dedicated to property theft and mass murder. That's why his people resorted to purely criminal methods when they fought one another for Stalin's inheritance. Political intrigue turned into a criminal plot - something this movie conveyed really well.

So, you abandoned the evil Empire, you atoned for your crimes and transgressions, and now you're trying to live as a good citizen, do your job and contribute to society. Then the moment comes when you realize that nobody cares about your dreams to make things better. Even more, your dreams are deemed dangerous to the new political order. All the powers that be require from you is to keep your head down and praise the status quo.

And then someone offers you a biscuit. A taste from the past that you used to enjoy. And it brings back the desire for knowledge and accomplishments that would benefit all. One bite from the apple (in the form of a biscuit) is all it takes to be banished from paradise.

That was a good episode. Not "The Mandalorian" we know but still very good. The focus is on a side character, a former Imperial scientist, now living in the New Republic, but it tells an important story about the ambiguity of morality.