Exclusive Screening of The Master and Margarita: Adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel

SEENEXT Working Group is delighted to invite you to an exclusive screening of Michael Lockshin’s recent cinematic adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel, The Master and Margarita. The screening will be followed by Q&A with Lockshin in person, moderated by Professors Matthew Kendall (UIC) and Ania Aizman (UChicago). This free Halloween event is open exclusively to the academic communities of UIC and U of Chicago: pre-registration and an academic ID are required. Please register here. If you are not affiliated with UIC or UChicago, please contact Marina Mogilner (mmogilne@uic.edu) to have your name added to the guest list.

The screening will take place at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at The University of Chicago, 915 E. 60^th Street, Room 201 (second floor), on November 1, 2024, at 7:00 PM.  It is sponsored by the UIC Institute for the Humanities SEENEXT Working Group, UIC, the UIC Edward and Marianna Thaden Chair in Russian and East European Intellectual History, the UIC Department of Polish, Russian, and Lithuanian Studies, the UIC School of Literatures, Cultural Studies and Linguistics, the UChicago Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, and Doc Films.

American-Russian filmmaker Michael Lockshin’s adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s The Master and Margarita has reignited interest in the literary work upon which it is based, but the film has also become a political lightning rod in Putin’s Russia. Featuring Evgeny Tsyganov, Yulia Snigir, August Diehl, and Claes Bang, the film stands out for both its high production values and its potent critique of Soviet authoritarianism. Filmed in 2021—a year before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—its release was repeatedly delayed until January 25, 2024. When it opened, the movie sparked significant political controversy, particularly due to Lockshin’s personal views on the current geopolitical situation. It faced intense scrutiny and aggressive attacks, provoking vehement calls from pro-war Russian propagandists who wanted to ban the film, and who demanded that criminal charges be brought against Lockshin. However, the film’s reception among audiences was overwhelmingly positive, and it quickly topped the Russian box office in its first week. This rift between the state and its audiences draws attention to the difficult situation in Russia regarding any form of political protest, and the improbable, unusual site of resistance this film created.

Watch the trailer online.

Michael Lockshin grew up in both the USA and Russia. While studying for a MA in Psychology at Moscow State University, he started to work in film. The Master and Margarita (2024) is his second feature film, his debut being Silver Skates (2020) -which was the first Russian-language Netflix Originals and won numerous national awards in Russia, including Best Picture at the Golden Eagle Awards (Russia’s Oscars).  Prior to his work as a feature director, Michael directed commercials and music videos across Europe for over 10 years, winning the Cannes Lions Young Director's Award, the Golden Drum, and others.