Themes from the novel

Moscow doesn't believe in tears

Vladimir Menshov

When Koroviev and Behemoth put the warehouse Torgsin in an uproar, Koroviev shouted: «Bitter, bitter», and he did it «like the best man at an old-fashioned wedding».

There’s an old Russian custom of shouting Горько! (Gorko) or Bitter! every now and then during the banquet after a wedding. The newly-weds are then expected to kiss so as to make it sweet

This custom is nicely shown in the much praised movie picture Москва слезам не верит [Moskva slezam ne berit] or Moscow Doesn’t Believe in Tears by Vladimir Menshov from 1979. We can see a wedding party at which the guests chant «Bitter, bitter». The movie was awarded with the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film in 1979.