“The Understanding Silence of the Hall” at the premiere at Astresova’s

This is exactly how, breathlessly, the Master of Music Denis Matsuev spoke about the aura of a crowded hall at his concerts. The same thing happened in the White Hall of the House of Cinema at the premiere of Svetlana Astresova’s documentary Bulgakov. This world – my!”.

“I wanted to create an ideal Bulgakov’s world on the screen, in which my hero would feel good and comfortable: strange, magical, deliberately theatrical. If the structure is three-act, as in a theatrical production with prologues-overtures, if the video sequence is certainly red velvet, heavy stucco decor, lush, dilapidated scenery, if the soundtrack, then archival recordings of Verdi, Gounod (performed by Chaliapin), Chopin. I included Mikhail Afanasyevich’s favorite music in the soundtrack, this is a kind of writer’s playlist, if he had one,” director, scriptwriter and co-producer of the film Svetlana Astretsova “reported” to the audience and journalists on the eve of the premiere.

The premiere at the Cinema House was attended by: the main hero of the occasion Svetlana Astretsova, actor and director Dmitry Bozin, actor, director, teacher Pavel Lyubimtsev, film producers Alexei Telnov and Elena Dementova, host of the evening, film journalist David Shneiderov, People’s Artist of Russia Yevgeny Gerchakov, poet and showman Vladimir Vishnevsky, actresses Yanina Melekhova, Olga Anichkova, Olga Dunaeva, film critic and film critic Andrei Shemyakin, poet, prose writer, actor Sergei Taratuta, producer, actor Mikhail Shashkov, writer Alexei Barkhatov, executive director of the Bulgakov House Museum-Theater Natalya Sklyarova, director , TV presenter Ivan Tsybin.

The gastronomic partner of the evening was the Stolle Pirogi company. Alcoholic partners of the presentation was the Italian wine company Ca’d’Abruzzo.

“Our studio went on a kind of journey in the footsteps of Mikhail Bulgakov. This journey of contemporaries along the roads and places of the legendary author opens it from different angles. Thanks to the film, we were able to take a fresh look at the world-famous writer. Telling about the rich cultural heritage of our country is one of the main tasks of the projects of the Lendok studio, – said Alexei Telnov, general producer of the project.

Work on the documentary project went on for three years – the film crew visited different cities associated with the life of Mikhail Afanasyevich – in Moscow, Kiev, Vladikavkaz. Film “Bulgakov. This world is mine! – a kind of journey through the life of Mikhail Afanasyevich, which reveals him from a previously unknown side …

The general impression after viewing the picture: professionally, talentedly, qualitatively, informatively and very beautifully filmed and done.

Private: the revival of Bulgakov’s photograph from the ashes; Bozin’s hands; passage along Vakhtangovsky; Lyubimtsev’s eyes; chandelier of the Bolshoi Theatre; facial expressions and gestures of Radzinsky; sun through foliage in Kyiv; chronicle, ideally inscribed in the context of the story; the director’s fabulous hands, sorting through Bulgakov’s photos; Bulgakov’s three-act world is “drawn” geometrically correctly, lovingly-sensually and magically theatrical; red velvet footage is the perfect complement to the picture; the soundtrack “entered” that same “Bulgakov’s World” in style, as it was there; the eye of the horse at the end of the picture is an incredible directorial decision!

“Vulnerable, but strong, gullible, but who did not tolerate any deceit, any betrayal, the embodiment of conscience, incorruptible honor” – the main words of the picture about its hero, spoken by the director, actor, teacher Pavel Lyubimtsev, both from the stage before the premiere and in the very movie.

The creative troupe of the picture tried to answer the questions: “What kind of person was Mikhail Afanasyevich?”, “How did Bulgakov manage to fall in love with the whole world?”, “Why are the heroes of his works real, who live “here and now”?” and the main one – “Why will we always love Bulgakov and his heroes?”. Svetlana Astretsova and her colleagues succeeded one hundred percent!

“This project is an attempt to comprehend the life and work of a truly great writer who had a tremendous impact on both Russian and world literature. We are glad that Svetlana Astretsova undertook this project, knowing her impressive professional experience, and during the joint work we were once again convinced of this, ”commented Elena Dementova, producer of the film.

“Bulgakov is an amazing ability to be with you every second: with you, to read, with you, the viewer. All Bulgakov’s plays were perceived by the audience as something “here and now” happening to them. These are not some fictional characters, it is you – Margarita, you are Woland, you are the Master, ”the performer of the role of Woland in the legendary performance of Roman Viktyuk“ The Master and Margarita ”and one of the participants in the film“ Bulgakov. This world is mine! Dmitry Bozin.

“In 1967, in the year of the 50th anniversary of the revolution, there was a smile of fate – the most popular, most prolific writer, the one who was not staged during his lifetime, spread rot – Bulgakov … His aphorisms became memes and scattered throughout the country, the main aphorism – if difficult times, then, most importantly, remember, because this is the law for writers in this country, – “Write, because manuscripts do not burn!”, – says the main historian and playwright Edward Radzinsky in the picture.

After the screen of the White Hall of the House of Cinema, the credits of the film “Bulgakov. This world is mine!”, the temple of arts, filled to the limit, in unison “broke down” a flurry of applause on the creators of the picture. The new work of Svetlana Astresova was accepted and approved because it is correct, honest, professionally made and socially useful.

Vladimir Sabadash, Anna Duhon.

Photos by Sergei Vinogradov, Mikhail Trofimov, Yuri Feklistov, Mikhail Bratsilo, Arkady Kobtsev, German Shevelev.