A
Cinematic Curiosity...
Shot
in a single 86 minute take, on high-definition
digital video, this film floats through 33 rooms
of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, past
more than 2500 actors and extras. We seem to be
inside the mind of a disembodied voice who is
getting a tour of the museum and it's 300 years
of Russian history from a French diplomat.
It is breathtaking to imagine the logistics of
creating this single unbroken shot, the longest
in motion picture history. It is an amazing
accomplishment.
Unfortunately, the film isn't as interesting as
the premise suggests. I found myself more
enamored with the technical achievement of the
film than with it's content, which is not much
more than a travelogue with costumes.
I think it is important to ask this question.
Would the film be worth watching without the
'single take' gimmick? And the answer is NO!
Soon, the novelty wears thin and you find that
the film is just plain boring. It's a shame,
because the technical achievement deserves a
better showcase.
I have respect and admiration for 'Russian Ark',
but I will never feel the urge to watch it
again.
©
Written by TC Candler
Richard
Propes' Comment
An
interesting, visually stunning experimental that
should be considered a must-see for fans
of Russian history, art, and experimental
filmmaking. This absolutely breathtaking view of
the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg is
awesome in its entirety.
Jacob
Hall's Comment
n/a
