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ITEM#: D-22115

TITLE: THE MASTER AND MARGARITA (DVD NTSC)

PRICE: $29.99

Language: Russian. Subtitles: English. Director: V. Bortko. Starring: Sergej Bezrukov, Vladislav Galkin, Aleksandr Abdulov, Aleksandr Adabash'yan, Oleg Basilashvili, Aleksandr Bashirov, Roman Kartsev, Lev Borisov, Aleksandr Filippenko, Valentin Gaft, Nina Usatova, Aleksandr Galibin, Anna Koval'chuk, Aleksandr Olejnikov.

"The Master and Margarita" (2005) is based on the eponymous book by Mikhail A. Bulgakov. Set in Moscow under Stalin and in Jerusalem under Pilate, it has several story-lines in which history, religion and politics all intertwine. The sacrifices of Master, a talented author of a manuscript about the biblical Pontius Pilate, and Master's muse, Margarita, are paralleled by the biblical story of Joshua in Jerusalam, and the deceit by the cowardly yet ambitious Pilate, whose character alludes to a Soviet leader. Reality is distorted by Woland, the devil, and his lieutenants, who manipulate public events and people's lives by exploiting human weaknesses and sins. Margarita makes a deal with Woland in her attempt to save the Master. The character of Master is autobiographical, and the burning of his manuscript alludes to what Bulgakov himself did under threats from the Soviet authorities.