The Master and Margarita

The Master and Margarita is a Russian television production of Telekanal Rossiya, based on the novel The Master and Margarita, written by Soviet writer Mikhail Bulgakov between 1928 and 1940. Vladimir Bortko directed this adaptation and was also its screenwriter.

The Master and Margarita (2005) is a Russian television miniseries created by Vladimir Bortko for Russia-1, adapting Mikhail Bulgakov's novel of the same name. Aleksandr Galibin plays the Master, a persecuted writer whose manuscript has been rejected by the authorities, and Anna Kovalchuk plays Margarita, the devoted lover who will go to extraordinary lengths to reclaim him. Oleg Basilashvili stars as Woland, a mysterious visitor who arrives in Moscow with his retinue, led by Aleksandr Abdulov's Koroviev, and begins exposing the vanity and corruption of the city's literary and official circles. Running across ten hour-long episodes, the series moves between two intercut threads: the satirical chaos of Soviet Moscow in the 1930s and the Roman-era trial of Ieshua Ha-Notsri before Kirill Lavrov's Pontius Pilate, drawn from the Master's own novel. Sergey Bezrukov, Vladislav Galkin and Valentin Gaft round out the principal cast. Its tone blends sardonic satire with melancholy, a mournful romance and a haunting sense of oppression, with the supernatural treated as both uncanny and mischievous. Fans of Bulgakov, Russian literary classics and literary fantasy adaptations such as Heart of a Dog and The Brothers Karamazov will find resonance here. The look is grounded and theatrical, favoring atmosphere over spectacle, making it a thoughtful, slow-burn piece of Russian television.

Audience reception is positive, with viewers rating this faithful Russian adaptation of Bulgakov's novel fairly well.

• Bulgakov's Heart of a Dogshared satirical fantasy adaptation of a literary classic, devil visiting soviet moscow
• Twin Peaksshared supernatural mystery with a devil figure and a satirical take on power and society
• Good Omensshared devilish trickster visiting an unsuspecting city, dark comedy with supernatural mischief
• The Brothers Karamazovshared literary adaptation with philosophical tone and a faith-versus-power theme

Created by

Vladimir Bortko

Release Date

2005-12-19

Episode runtime

52 min

Rating

7.5 / 10 (101)

What is The Master and Margarita about?

A devil and his retinue descend on 1930s Moscow, unmasking its hypocrisy while a persecuted writer and his devoted lover are drawn into the fallout.

What is The Master and Margarita like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Master and Margarita as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.

Is The Master and Margarita violent?

Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Master and Margarita as mild.

What did critics think of The Master and Margarita?

Audience reception is positive, with viewers rating this faithful Russian adaptation of Bulgakov's novel fairly well.

Which shows are like The Master and Margarita?

Shows with a similar feel include Bulgakov's Heart of a Dog, Twin Peaks, Good Omens, and The Brothers Karamazov.

How long is The Master and Margarita?

The Master and Margarita: 1 season, 10 episodes.

Is The Master and Margarita still running?

No, The Master and Margarita has ended.