Russia's first television production of The Master and Margarita, the novel by Mikhail Bulgakov.
Vladimir Bortko is the director and screenwriter of the new adaptation. The mini-series of ten 52-minute episodes was first screened on the state television channel "Россия" ("Russia") on December, 2005.
The Master and Margarita is a novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, woven about the premise of a visit by the Devil to the fervently atheistic Soviet Union. Many critics consider the book to be one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, as well as one of the foremost Soviet satires, directed against a suffocatingly bureaucratic social order.

Even in Russia where alcoholism is a national scourge and - to say so - national art's topic - there are not many movies that shows with such vividness and strength all the hell and total chaos and insanity of the life of a alco-path. You must see this man, his flat which looks like Hell landscape and his doings that are caricature and horrible at the same time - REALLY horrible since that man ends violating moral law... And betrayal of a friend - the only being sympathized him and one sent to save him - plunged this man into "outer darkness where is weeping and gnashing of teeth". Still the man is not evil in himself - he's possessed. And in the moments of sobriety his suffering are sharp. One of the best works of splendid Sergei Shakurov. Also the film is notable as animal movie - the spectator is just completely charmed by this second figure in the story - Newfoundland dog called Друг (Friend)...

The James Aldridge story "The Last Inch" was written in 1957 and translated into Russian the same year, while the first English edition came out in 1960.
Most unusual story line: veteran pilot decides to make some extra-money by filming underwater shark feeding at the remote Red Sea location. He takes with him young son for a plane ride, while goes underwater. The trouble is: while filming, he has been viciously attacked by a pack of angry sharks which render him incapacitated to fly home. Now he faces an option: either both of them die in the desert or his little boy must fly them back. His son has some rudimentary knowledge of flying, but does not have any real experience. The father lost a lot of blood and he is in constant pain. He is drifting in and out of consciousness, hence additional danger may be that his son will be all along in the air. Keeps the viewer on the edge of the seat. The musical score is well chosen as well. Shame that this movie was shown only for the Russian Audience!

In 2008 this film celebrates the 50th anniversary.