Russian Ark [DVD]

Russian screenwriter and director Alexandr Sokurov`s eleventh feature film which he co-wrote with Anatoly Nikiforov, Russian screenwriter and director Svetlana Proskurina and Boris Khaimisky, is a Russia-Germany co-production which was shot entirely in the State Hermitage Museum in the federal city of St. Petersburg in Northwestern Russia. It premiered In competition at the 55th Cannes International Film Festival in 2002 and was produced by Russian producer Andrey Deryabin, German screenwriter, producer and director Jens Meurer and producer Karsten Stöter. It tells the story about a French aristocrat named Marquis de Custine and called the European who walks through an 18th century Winter Palace, formerly inhabited by Russian czars, in Saint Petersburg during the 19th century. While examining a world of historic art and culture and encountering various people from different periods in time, the European engages in a communication with an unnamed man who accompanies him through the giant museum.Distinctly and engagingly directed by Russian filmmaker Alexandr Sokurov who created the visual concept and principal image design for the film, this quietly paced and astonishing historic drama which alternates between the point of view of the narrator (Alexandr Sokurov) and his companion, draws a remarkable portrayal of an ongoing conversation between a French writer and a Russian while they are moving from one salon to another and one period to another. While notable for its somewhat surreal and colorful milieu depictions, stellar costume design by costume designers Tamara Seferyan, Maria Grishanova and Lidiya Kryukova, cinematography by German cinematographer Tilman Büttner and art direction by Russian production designer and art director Yelena Zhukova and production designer and costume designer Natalia Kochergina, this dialog-driven story has a fine score by Russian composer Sergey Yevtushenko.This visually exquisite, profoundly atmospheric and fairytale-like tour through history and time in one of the oldest and largest museums of the world, was shot in one single continuous take, contains a cast of 867 actors, some scenes of sheer cinematic magic and is impelled by Russian actor Sergei Dreyden`s vivacious acting performance. A meritorious achievement from a visionary filmmaker and a magnificent homage to humanity, art, culture and history which gained, among other awards, the Visions Award Alexandr Sokurov at the 27th Toronto International Film Festival in 2002 and the Nika Award for Best Production designer Yelena Zhukova and Natalia Kochergina at the Nika Awards in 2004.

There's been enough said about how this film is shot in one take, and Sokurov justifies this by saying that the film is like one breath, taking in 300 years of Russian history, which it very much is. I was gripped throughout - the technique, with the drifting dream-like steady-cam absorbs you. You find yourself unconscious of the fact that you are actually watching a film.While this may appeal to any foreign-film fan, it's more likely to find favour with people who have an interest in Russian cinema, history and literature, and personally, I can't imagine watching this film without having been to Russia and to The Hermitage (where the film is set) in particular. I just don't think I would have felt the emotional tug of the film (which is quite a strong part of it, alongside the historical element) as much. To go to Saint Petersburg is to realise that Russia is an immensely cultured country, which is what Sokurov is getting at with the European guide in this film. People see Russia as un-European and somewhat barbaric, while they ignorantly assume the French to be the most cultured nation in the world. Sokurov goes some way to refuting that with this work.The extras on the dvd are perfect. There is a short film by Sokurov about the guide in Russian Ark - his past, who he was, why he is chosen to take us round The Hermitage. There is also a documentary about the making of the film, which shows not only how monumental the task of shooting and coming up with the idea for the film was, but gives some historical information and shows us some of the hidden historical figures who pass us by in the film.There is no other film that this can possibly be compared to. Everyone interested in avant-garde cinema or in Russia (and its relationship with Europe) should watch this immediately.

I really enjoyed watching this excursion into Russian history. It's an interesting idea to follow the history of this huge country by means of a stroll through the museum rooms in the Winter Palace (Hermitage) in St Petersburg. Anybody who has visited the city will surely remember the place and enjoy seeing it here. In each room a different episode from the turbulent history of Russia is played out in a short live action scene before the visitor and his guide pass into the next room.This is one of very few feature length films shot in one continuous take and presented in unedited (uncut) form. As such it is obviously a must see film for anybody with an interest in the art of motion picture photography. But the feat is astonishing even for the most casual viewer. Add to that the fact that there is a huge cast comprised of scores of actors and well over a thousand extras involved, it boggles the mind that this could be achieved.The DVD is very nice. The film is in (the original) Russian with English subtitles. No English audio. The run time of the film is 96 minutes. Also included are the following extras: - "In One Breath" making of documentary - "Hubert Robert, A Fortunate Life" - short film by Alexander Sokurov - Theatrical trailer - Production notes - Alexander Sokurov (director) and Tilmann Büttner (cinematographer) filmographies