Barshevsky takes the story up to 1956, the year of Khrushchev's secret speech to the 20th Communist party congress that first lifted a corner of the veil over Stalin's crimes.
Half a century on, Barshevsky feels Russia still has a long way to go in facing up to its Stalinist past.
"It's very important that the government show its position against Stalin's terror. People are voicing alarm about the fate of democracy in our country. But we've been able to make this film, and all the channels are asking if they can show it in prime time.
"For me, this gives grounds for hoping that we are on the path to democracy."
The project, he noted, had received state funding, and officials "including some in government" who have seen rough cuts have expressed satisfaction.
Crunch time will come in May, the deadline Barshevsky has set himself for Moscow Saga to start broadcasting.
In the meantime he is also working on a feature-length version of the saga for theater release.
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