DVD Review: Russian Ark
Catherine and I decided to watch Russian Ark directed by Aleksandr Sokurovlast last night on the recommendation of my friend Mike. What is amazing about this film is all one shot - 94 minutes - uncut, no edits. At first, you almost become annoyed by this because we have all grown so used to the cut action to perspective of a speaker or some action. To make this long shot work you are sharing the view point of an anonymous narrator. The plot has a dream-esque, science fiction plot. And not with aliens and space ships, more of a fantastical time travel with a person who is very disoriented by being where they are.
It takes place in the Hermitage Museum in Russia. A massive museum in St Petersburg, it is the ‘Russian Ark’, holding 300 years of culture and art. The museum is the center piece and you do get wrapped up in the complexities and grandness of the museum. It wraps around you as you share this perspective with the narrator. We also have a “guest” that comes with us through the museum, the Marquis de Custine. He is a real person who is fictionalized for the plot - I always dig this. He represents Europe and their distain for Russia and the narrator gives us the counter view, at times getting close to argument with the Marquis.
You watch the film waiting for things to happen with the technical end and become wrapped into the plot. That said, the fair criticism arises of whether the plot would stand on its own if it was not such a technical marvel. I do not believe it would, it would need to be filled out in places and of course, as an audience, we would be demanding of plot resolution for some points which are left open.
Other notes - the film is in Russian with English sub-titles. This at times makes it difficult to know who is speaking. Also, there are a lot of Russian history references which were lost on me. Thankfully there is a very good 45 minute documentary included about the technical feat of making the film along with filling in some of the Russia history. And last, but certainly not least, you are watching take 4. One Call to action, one call to cut.
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