The Master and Margarita (2005– )
"Master i Margarita" (original title)

Master and Margarita (2005) is a Menippean film based on the eponymous book by Mikhail A. Bulgakov. Set in Moscow under Stalin and in Jerusalem under Pilate, it has several story-lines ... See full summary »

Stars:

Aleksandr Abdulov, Oleg Basilashvili, Vano Miranyan

Cast

Series cast summary:
Aleksandr Abdulov	...	Koroviev (10 episodes, 2005)
Oleg Basilashvili	...	Woland (9 episodes, 2005)
Vano Miranyan	...	Behemoth the Cat (9 episodes, 2005)
Semyon Furman	...	Behemoth the Cat (9 episodes, 2005)
Aleksandr Chaban	...	Investigator (9 episodes, 2005)
Aleksandr Filippenko	...	Azazello (8 episodes, 2005)
Valentin Gaft	...	Man in Uniform (8 episodes, 2005)
Vladislav Galkin	...	Ivan Bezdomny (7 episodes, 2005)
Leonid Maksimov	...	Investigator's Assistant (7 episodes, 2005)
Dmitri Poddubnyi		(7 episodes, 2005)
Anna Kovalchuk	...	Margarita (6 episodes, 2005)
Kirill Lavrov	...	Pontius Pilate (6 episodes, 2005)
Ilya Oleynikov	...	Rimsky (6 episodes, 2005)
Valery Krupenikov		(6 episodes, 2005)
Aleksandr Galibin	...	Master (5 episodes, 2005)
Sergey Bezrukov	...	Ieshua Ha-Notsri (5 episodes, 2005)
Tanya Yu	...	Gella (5 episodes, 2005)
Liubomiras Lauciavicius	...	Afranius (5 episodes, 2005)

Storyline

Master and Margarita (2005) is a Menippean film based on the eponymous book by Mikhail A. Bulgakov. Set in Moscow under Stalin and in Jerusalem under Pilate, it has several story-lines where history, religion and politics are intertwined. The story of Master (Galibin), a talented author of a manuscript about the biblical Pontius Pilate, and Master's muse - Margarita (Kovalchuk), is paralleled by the biblical story of Ieshua in Ierushalaim, and the deceit of the cowardly ambiguous Pilate (Lavrov), whose character alludes to a Soviet leader. The reality is distorted by Satan - Woland (Basilashvili), and his lieutenants, who are manipulating public events and people's lives by pushing buttons of human weaknesses and sins. Margarita taps into Woland's power, trying to save Master. The character of Master is autobiographical, burning of his manuscript alludes to what Bulgakov himself did under threats from Soviet authorities.

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Plot Keywords:

jerusalem | sacrifice | temptation | dictatorship | manipulation | 

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [ru]

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

19 December 2005 (Russia)

Also Known As:

A Mester és Margarita

Filming Locations:

Astoria Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Goskino, Telekanal Rossiya

Technical Specs

Runtime:

500 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Black and White Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many scenes were filmed in St. Petersburg, Russia, although most of the series takes place in Moscow. Director Vladimir Bortko, who lives in St. Petersburg, decided in favor of it because, in his words, "St. Petersburg today still looks more like the 1930s Moscow".

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Connections

Version of Incident in Judaea (1991)

User Reviews

I gave 5 stars because the result is not adequate to the original book, which is 10 and is read by everyone in former SU

There is no reason, why anybody who likes the book would not see this mini. Simply because there is no other screen version made. However, i'am disappointed. I gave 5 stars because the result is not adequate to the original book, which is 10 and is read by everyone in former SU. The difference with original, historical mistakes and technical imperfections are least boring by the way. The greatest disappointment is the simplification of most parts, which where so brilliantly "multylayerly" depicted in written version. All dramatic episodes including all in Jerusalem are total failure. In contrast, many of comic and episodic scenes are funny and truly well made. But this cant save 10 series long movie: some of them are entire waste of time, full of long senseless dialogs. Why the same dialogs and scenes are OK in the book? - there is magic, i dare say, that lost in screen version. Another way to justify screen version is to add creative material from filmmaker. May be answer some questions, that left open by writer. For example, many people don't dig why episodes with Jesus are so important to break main storyline. Why? - no answer in movie, even less clear. Now I doubt the line of Master and Margo is needed too. It could be cute film about Satan & co visiting Moscow.