Russian Ark
Screening: 7th June 2004
Russia/Germany 2002 (subtitles)
Directed by Aleksandr Sokurov.
Leading players ~ Sergei Dontsov, Mariya Kuznetsova, Leonid Mozgovoy.
Synopsis
An epic, from the country that gave cinema the epic, Russian Ark is more famous for how it was made than its plot. Nonetheless, it has a story to tell and what a story!Through the eyes of the narrator, a nameless 19th century French diplomat, Russian Ark is a journey through time in Rastrelli’s magnificent Hermitage Palace in St Petersburg - home of the Tsars and an unrivalled treasure trove of Russian culture and world art.
As our guide moves from sumptuous room to splendid hall he encounters the main players in Russia’s Enlightenment period from Peter and Catherine the Great to the ill-fated Nicholas and Alexandria.
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Director Sergei Donstov’s audacious attempt at filming an epic in one continuous shot was either the act of a brave and confident cinematic master or the result of a pressing dinner appointment.Whatever, though it is more likely to be the former, the result is a unique, outstanding success; a cinematic feast featuring 2,000 actors, 300 years of Russian and European history with three live orchestras to provide the soundtrack. A wonder to behold, filmed in a breathtaking setting with some of the greatest works of western art forming the backdrop.
