Commissioned by Oliver Stone in 2015 for the centenary of the Russian Revolution, Tariq Ali's captivating screenplay of the life and times of Vladimir Lenin, brings one of the most exciting moments in history to life. From the author of The Dilemmas of Lenin, Ali's drama recasts the historic figures anew. From young firebrand to global revolutionary leader, Lenin remains an enigma to many. Unfortunately, two very different attempts to film failed. In the introduction Tariq Ali explains the difficulties but argues that a serious cinematic assessment of Lenin is still needed. This first draft provides the basis for something on a grander scale at some stage in the future