<P> Stalin 's body is laid in state in the Hall of Columns for three days , while many political prisoners are released and restrictions on the Russian Orthodox Church are loosened , earning Beria more popular support . Meanwhile , Field Marshal Georgy Zhukov ( Jason Isaacs ) , the leader of the Red Army , arrives and demands to know why the Army has been confined to barracks within Moscow . On the third night , Beria learns that Khrushchev has a passing acquaintance with Maria , who was hired to play at the funeral , and threatens her with the note . Realising that Beria could potentially tie him to treasonous activities , Khrushchev approaches Zhukov , who agrees to provide the Army 's support in a coup to overthrow Beria , but only if he has the entire Committee with him . In an attempt to undermine Beria 's popularity , Khrushchev orders the trains into Moscow to resume , allowing the thousands of mourners who wish to see Stalin 's body into the city , hoping to provoke the NKVD . Sure enough , the NKVD guards manning the barricades around the Hall fire on the crowd , killing 1,500 people . The Committee suggests pinning the blame on some low - level NKVD officers , causing Beria to break down and indirectly threaten the Committee by revealing the incriminating documents he has collected on all of them , as he believes any blame attached to the security services will ultimately tarnish him . Beria is able to calm himself and agrees to the plan , but the other members are visibly shaken , except Malenkov , who remains convinced that Beria is his ally . </P>
<P> Stalin 's body is laid in state in the Hall of Columns for three days , while many political prisoners are released and restrictions on the Russian Orthodox Church are loosened , earning Beria more popular support . Meanwhile , Field Marshal Georgy Zhukov ( Jason Isaacs ) , the leader of the Red Army , arrives and demands to know why the Army has been confined to barracks within Moscow . On the third night , Beria learns that Khrushchev has a passing acquaintance with Maria , who was hired to play at the funeral , and threatens her with the note . Realising that Beria could potentially tie him to treasonous activities , Khrushchev approaches Zhukov , who agrees to provide the Army 's support in a coup to overthrow Beria , but only if he has the entire Committee with him . In an attempt to undermine Beria 's popularity , Khrushchev orders the trains into Moscow to resume , allowing the thousands of mourners who wish to see Stalin 's body into the city , hoping to provoke the NKVD . Sure enough , the NKVD guards manning the barricades around the Hall fire on the crowd , killing 1,500 people . The Committee suggests pinning the blame on some low - level NKVD officers , causing Beria to break down and indirectly threaten the Committee by revealing the incriminating documents he has collected on all of them , as he believes any blame attached to the security services will ultimately tarnish him . Beria is able to calm himself and agrees to the plan , but the other members are visibly shaken , except Malenkov , who remains convinced that Beria is his ally . </P>
who played georgy zhukov in the death of stalin
who played georgy zhukov in the death of stalin
Jason Isaacs
Jason Isaacs