Heart of a Dog (1988)

Heart of a Dog (1988) poster

"Heart of a Dog" is a Soviet film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s iconic novella. Set in 1920s Moscow, it tells the satirical and darkly humorous story of a stray dog named Sharik, who is transformed into a human by Professor Preobrazhensky through a daring medical experiment. The resulting man, Poligraf Poligrafovich Sharikov, embodies the social and ideological tensions of early Soviet society. With its sharp critique of class struggle, human nature, and the perils of radical change, the film is celebrated for its faithful adaptation, brilliant performances, and rich allegorical depth.

Director: Vladimir Bortko
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction
Runtime: 136 min
Release Date:

Cast

Screenplay

Music: Vladimir Dashkevich
Cinematography: Yuriy Shaygardanov
Editing: Leda Semyonova
Production: Lenfilm
Country: Soviet Union
Language: Pусский
Original Language: ru

Keywords

experiment, russian revolution (1917), wonder, animal transformation

Similar Movies

More Films by Director: Vladimir Bortko
More Films in Genre: Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Heart of a Dog about?
"Heart of a Dog" is a Soviet film adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s iconic novella. Set in 1920s Moscow, it tells the satirical and darkly humorous story of a stray dog named Sharik, who is transformed into a human by Professor Preobrazhensky through a daring medical experiment. The resulting man, Poligraf Poligrafovich Sharikov, embodies the social and ideological tensions of early Soviet society. With its sharp critique of class struggle, human nature, and the perils of radical change, the film is celebrated for its faithful adaptation, brilliant performances, and rich allegorical depth.
Who directed Heart of a Dog?
Heart of a Dog was directed by Vladimir Bortko.
Who stars in Heart of a Dog?
Heart of a Dog stars Evgeniy Evstigneev, Boris Plotnikov, Vladimir Tolokonnikov, Nina Ruslanova, Olga Melikhova, Aleksei Mironov.
How long is Heart of a Dog?
Heart of a Dog has a runtime of 2h 16m (136 minutes).
What genre is Heart of a Dog?
Heart of a Dog is a Drama, Comedy, Science Fiction film.
Where was Heart of a Dog produced?
Heart of a Dog was produced in Soviet Union.