With this bravura biography of Shostakovich, director Tony Palmer assumes with distinction the mantle once worn by Ken Russell as the chronicler of composers' lives. The drama is rendered all the more poignant and eloquent by the superb performance of Ben Kingsley as Shostakovich and the first-class recording of the music by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. Palmer himself directs the momentous story, centring on clashes between the composer and Stalin, with great visual power.


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