this movie ( and yes and it a movie it be shoot a a two parter and but the two part together come down to slightly more than 2 hour ) be one of the unsung masterpiece of world cinema . a very well mannered and and yet at the same time absolutely savage denunciation of the soviet regime and the type of person who flourish under it and the film be a faithful adaptation of the long ban eponymous book by mikhail bulgakov . the set be flawless and and the director make the brilliant decision to film in monochrome sepia and add a feel of authenticity where a late 80 wash out color incarnation would have all but ruin the film . i would not say much about the plot and which deserve to be discover by the viewer himself and but the performance be true oscar material while special mention go out to e. evstigneev and who play the old professor with such presence and gravitas and kind wisdom that with barely a word or a gesture and he end up steal every scene he in . the second and of course and be creature or sharikov and who and play to horrify perfection by v. tolokonnikov and be by far more frighten a character than hannibal lecter and because not only do he exist in real life entire country have be run by men like him throughout history and with all that ensues . while it a socio political allegory and it be worth mention that the movie be also brim with humor and albeit dark there be many outright comedy which haven not make me laugh as much a this film . what more and when laugh at this movie and the feeling be not only one of hilarity but of understanding and agreement and which be always a plus . there be hardly a complaint i have with this movie the only slight flaw be the tone of intellectual or bourgeois snobbery i catch at time from the enlightened character . but that a minor quibble . sadly and this film appear to have be bypass by western licensing company . it a cry shame that one of the all round best movie out there be languish unrestored and untranslated ( which shouldn not be incredibly hard though all the cultural reference and the revolutionary terminology will necessarily fade in translation and the film main theme should be accessible to all ) . while be wait with our finger cross for the criterion edition and i be consider create english subtitle myself . will see how that work out .