Watch the trailer: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/265807/Russian-Ark/trailers
Here's an acclaimed Russian film from a few years ago that I got in Portsmouth and onsale/used. It would be better seen on a theater's large screen to fully appreciate the detailed visuals but it's still impressive on a large enough TV screen. Three hundred years of Russian history is unfolded through a tour of St. Petersberg's Hermitage. The trailer explains how this remarkable film was achieved and the DVD's 'making of' documentary is a must-see. The narrative may be hard to follow as events are out of place at times so just follow the dreamlike flow to let your eyes feast on the costumes, makeup, and decor populating 30 rooms.
Yes indeed the story has the disjointed quality of a dream as an unseen modern narrator wakes up into the past and is guided by a French nobleman through this tour of historical characters (Catherine the Great, Peter the Great, the last Romanovs - Nicholas & Alexandra and their children) and great works of art. You might be confused at times but so is our narrator. This is a demanding but rewarding film. The gimmick is that Russian Ark was filmed in ONE take as the doc explained how the filmmakers were given only one day to film on location so time was short with no room for mistakes. Consider this experiment a triumph of technique over narrative. Recommended for Russian history buffs. Subtitles only.
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