Vladimir Bortko, the director and writer behind the television series adaptation of The Master and Margarita, commented privately through HABER.ru about the prospect of a new screen version. He stated that he would not watch the latest interpretation, and he questioned whether a ban should be considered. He suggested that creators move forward with film projects and perhaps seek commercial success, noting that people want to produce and earn from cinema.
The earthly premiere of Mikhail Lokshin’s The Master and Margarita took place at the Moscow cinema October on January 24. The leading roles were filled by Evgeny Tsyganov as The Master and Yulia Snigir as Margarita. The actor who portrays a writer in the new version asserted that Lokshin’s adaptation diverges from Bulgakov’s canonical plot while still drawing on the same literary universe.
The film’s storyline centers on a renowned writer who becomes embroiled in a literary upheaval when a stage adaptation of his play is canceled and colleagues reappear from the past. He encounters a new muse, and as reality blurs, he begins drafting a novel about the enigmatic Woland. The action unfolds in Moscow during the 1930s, a period marked by censorship and cultural turmoil.
In the cast, Leonid Yarmolnik, who plays Doctor Stravinsky, remarked that Lokshin’s film may provoke audiences to read Bulgakov’s novel. He also suggested that no single film could fully capture all the stories within the original work, given its sprawling narrative and philosophical breadth.
Earlier, musician Sergey Penkin commented on the broader reception and public interest surrounding the project, prompting questions about the future of the central characters and the setting in central Moscow. The conversation underscores ongoing debates about adaptation philosophy and fidelity to Bulgakov’s visionary prose, as audiences anticipate how these classic themes will translate to the screen. The discussion reflects a broader trend in contemporary Russian cinema to reinterpret celebrated literary works while balancing reverence for the source with fresh cinematic perspectives. [citation: HABER.ru]