Kornél Mundruczó’s New Film Explores Stalin’s Origins: ‘The Revolution According to Kamo’ Joins MK2 Films

MK2 Films, prominently featured with six titles in the running at the Cannes Film Festival, is also set to initiate sales at the festival’s market for “The Revolution According to Kamo,” directed by Kornél Mundruczó of “Pieces of a Woman” fame.

The screenplay is crafted by Paweł Pawlikovski, acclaimed for his Oscar-winning works “Ida” and “Cold War,” along with Ben Hopkins, known for “The Nine Lives of Tomas Katz” and “Limonov: The Ballad of Eddie,” and Kata Weber, co-writer of “Pieces of a Woman.” The concept originates from Pawlikovski. In preparation for Cannes, the project has garnered support from French distributor Le Pacte and the broadcaster Arte.

Set during the tumultuous downfall of the Russian Empire, “The Revolution According to Kamo” explores the deep friendship between Simon Arshaki Ter-Petrosyan, who would later be known as the Bolshevik revolutionary Kamo, and his childhood companion Soso, who would rise to infamy as the dictator Stalin.

“In a world on the brink of collapse, two young boys forge a friendship that will alter the course of history. As they grow, their innocent dreams of revolution evolve into a grim reality. Soso, with his strategic mind and charismatic demeanor, transforms into Joseph Stalin, while Kamo, ever loyal, turns into a sacrificial figure in Stalin’s shadow,” according to the film’s synopsis.

Fionnuala Jamison, the managing director at mk2 Films, expressed excitement about the collaboration with Kornél Mundruczó on “The Revolution According to Kamo.” She highlighted, “We are delighted to reunite with Paweł Pawlikovski and believe their creative synergy along with Kornél’s visionary direction will inject a sharp intelligence and poignant energy into this compelling and timely narrative. The film is a blend of gangster drama, a tyrant’s origin, and a dark cautionary tale with ironic undertones.”

The production team includes Mike Goodridge from Good Chaos, who is also working on Ed Berger’s “The Ballad of a Small Player;” Ilya Stewart of Hype Studios, known for Kirill Serebrennikov’s “The Disappearance of Josef Mengele;” along with BAFTA-nominee Balthazar de Ganay, Pawlikowski, and Tanya Seghatchian, in collaboration with Proton Cinema in Hungary, MK Productions in France, Komplizen in Germany, Madants in Poland, and Takes Film in Georgia. The initial development of the script was in partnership with Film4.

Currently, Mundruczó is working on “At the Sea,” a drama featuring Amy Adams, based on an original script by Weber. He recently directed the first four episodes of “The Crowded Room,” an Apple TV+ limited series starring Tom Holland. His previous work, “Pieces of a Woman,” was a contender for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival in 2020, and his earlier six films have all been featured at Cannes, including “White God,” which claimed the Un Certain Regard Prize in 2014, and “Jupiter’s Moon,” a nominee for the Palme d’Or.