The scandalous Russian film "The Master and Margarita" will be released in the USA

The Russian film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's novel "The Master and Margarita" directed by Mikhail Lokshin will be released in the United States. This is reported by the Variety portal with reference to the distributor company Luminosity Pictures.

The film will be released in the USA on September 18. The restored director's version of the film will be available to American viewers. For Russian distribution, a number of scenes were removed from the film. Luminosity Pictures hopes that "viewers will be fascinated by its romance, imagination and eternal themes and will understand why this extraordinary story has captivated readers around the world for generations."

As EADaily reported, the release of "The Master and Margarita" on Russian screens provoked a scandal due to the pro-Ukrainian position of Lokshin, who left for the USA.

The production companies of the project "Master and Margarita" — "Mars Media" and "Profit" — issued a joint statement. They explained that the film began shooting in 2018, and the entire shooting process was completed in the fall of 2021 — before the start of a special military operation. At the same time, the director, who later began publishing posts in support of Ukraine, went back to the United States, of which he is a citizen.

The Minister of Culture of Russia Olga Lyubimova stated that due to the incorrectly chosen civic position of one of the participants, it is impossible to close a large multi-year project. Lyubimova also stressed that she does not receive any money from the rental of the painting from those people who left.

The painting "The Master and Margarita" became the winner of the 38th Nika Award for 2024, receiving prizes in seven nominations.

Previously, the film was released in Germany, Austria, Sweden and Italy.