Sobachye serdtse

This movie (and yes, it's a movie - it was shot as a two-parter, but the two parts together come down to slightly more than 2 hours) is one of the unsung masterpieces of world cinema. A very well-mannered, and yet at the same time absolutely savage denunciation of the Soviet regime and the type of person who flourished under it, the film is a faithful adaptation of the long-banned eponymous book by Mikhail Bulgakov. The sets are flawless, and the director made the brilliant decision to film in monochrome sepia, adding a feel of authenticity where a late-80s washed-out color incarnation would have all but ruined the film. I won't say much about the plot, which deserves to be discovered by the viewer himself, but the performances are true Oscar material; special mentions go out to E. Evstigneev, who plays the old professor with such presence, gravitas and kind wisdom that with barely a word or a gesture, he ends up stealing every scene he's in. The second, of course, is Creature/Sharikov, who, played to horrifying perfection by V. Tolokonnikov, is by far more frightening a character than Hannibal Lecter, because not only does he exist in real life - entire countries have been ran by men like him throughout history, with all that ensues.

While it's a socio political allegory, it is worth mentioning that the movie is also brimming with humor, albeit dark - there are many outright comedies which haven't made me laugh as much as this film. What's more, when laughing at this movie, the feeling is not only one of hilarity but of understanding and agreement, which is always a plus.

There is hardly a complaint I have with this movie - the only slight flaw is the tone of intellectual/bourgeois snobbery I caught at times from the "enlightened" characters. But that's a minor quibble.

Sadly, this film appears to have been bypassed by Western licensing companies. It's a crying shame that one of the all-round best movies out there is languishing unrestored and untranslated (which shouldn't be incredibly hard - though all the cultural references and the revolutionary terminology will necessarily fade in translation, the film's main themes should be accessible to all). While we're waiting with our fingers crossed for the Criterion edition, I'm considering creating English subtitles myself. Will see how that works out.

It does not come to me a surprise that all positive reviews on this site come from Russian ex-pats, while the single negative one comes from somebody outside.

This movie is based on a classic work by a leading Russian monarchist intellectual. As such, it offers us a rare opportunity to look at the world from point of view of educated, wealthy aristocrat - a being much despised by most today, as he confronts an underprivileged, undereducated and underachieving antagonist, together with multitude of civil rights activists, acting as the latter's allies.

The movie's philosophy can be horrifying (and can be argued to be biased and one sided), but definitely deserves a consideration, offering a refreshingly new (or rediscovered old) prospective on eternal problems of social justice and intellectual hierarchy.

After having read this incredible book by Mikhail Bulgakov I thought how Sharikov and Professor Preobrazhensky would look like in real life. Borthko found them! Sharikov and Professor are in the flesh! The satire and allegory of this superb piece of art is 'the cherry top'. I must confess, it's so rare when you see a film on the same pace of the book. The film is a brilliant screen where your fantasy heroes come true. Evstigneev's and Tolokonnikov's talent is irreplaceable! Did the director change anything from the book? God forbid, NO! Borthko has put every detail in this incredible masterpiece! It's that Bulgakov we see and would love to see! 10 out of 10!

...Not always from the beginning, though, but every time it goes on TV I am somehow unable to switch channel - dispite knowing all of the scenes by heart! Almost perfect adaptation of a great Bulgakov's novella. I recommend "Heart of a Dog" to every foreign viewer as a hidden gem of soviet cinema.

This magnificent painting by Vladimir Bortko of printed for the first time in the Soviet Union only in 1987, early satirical novel by Mikhail Bulgakov about the fantastic transformation of stray dog ​​ in a typical Soviet citizen Sharikov often show is now on television the anniversary of the October Revolution (by the way, is so-called revolution until the end 20s). And each time it is to be understood as a special treatment with a sobering effect on the revival of historical illusions and delusions (sorry that Bortko himself is now defected to the Communists, and even joined the Communist Party!). Three characters, the key to understanding the uniqueness of the moment has long expired - balls, Shvonder and Professor Preobrazhensky (in excellent, sometimes just virtuoso performance respectively Tolokonnikova Vladimir, Roman and Eugene Evstigneeva Kartseva) - can be said to have become a household figures. And thanks to them, as well as due to finely-crafted direction that does not rush to extremes, and an overlap, following commendable sense of proportion and taste, a pivotal era in the destiny of the country appeared on the screen in capacious, aphoristic form, which is not devoid of bright tragifarsovosti.

A skillful operator (in black and white, but slightly virirovannoy tone) work Yuri Shaygardanova has written the historical and revolutionary fantastic anecdote in stylized retro long sunk into oblivion peace. All this suggests the adaptation of Vladimir Bortko, maybe the best version of Bulgakov's works, which corresponds exactly to the plan of the writer, significant realized by him in the ninth year of the revolution.