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 [Russia]

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

In the original Russian version of the series, the voice of Alexandr Galibin's character Master is actually dubbed by Sergei Bezrukov, who plays Ieshua Ha-Notsri (Jesus).

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Connections

Version of Master i Margarita (1994)

User Reviews

Not a masterpiece, not even close

The series are mediocre. Director's work is just invisible - good actors play well and not-so-good actors play not-so-well. Camera is static, special effects are cheap. The Cat Behemot is just a joke. Rimsky is not supposed to be a clown as shown. New character played by Gaft is added for a very obvious reason - to educate new generations who cannot read between lines in the book. But what is more important - the series are missing Bulgakov's spirit and sour sense of humor. Only scenes that are supposed to be serious and sad look attractive. Clearly the series are made for people who have never read the book. I agree with the previous reviewer - very disappointing.