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NT
RubenSan Francisco, California
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Maybe I'm getting older, but I saw a weak attempt to get into book of records, but nothing more.
If you like Russian Ark , try Ulysses Gaze .
I watched it last night in HDTV. Well, I tried. I was so un-entertained I couldn't finish the movie. I must be one of those uncultured, Hollywood-bred, sheep in a flock..
There are two ways to be entertained by Russian Ark .One, to appreciate the technical achievement of the film, undeniably impressive. Film students/critics are most likely to be entertained in this fashion.
Two, to appreciate the historical context of the film. History buffs and people well grounded in Russian history in particular are most likely to be entertained in this fashion.
Neither did it for me (although I know enough to appreciate the technical achievement). As a result, I also failed to make it all the way through the film. But it is certainly not an inherently "un-entertaining" film, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to the right people, with the appropriate caveats.
On number one... it is mandatory for the viewer to be aware of the way the film was shot - in one smooth non-stop motion. While this is "just a technical detail", it gives the viewing experience much stronger flavor - one does get mesmerized by how seamlessly the scenes follow each other, and one must appreciate the enormous effort it took to orchestrate the whole thing... some directors can't shoot two minutes straight.Technical merits do not a fine movie make, however, so one is obligated to look at other sides too.
There the movie is a hit and miss collage. Some scenes are completely artistic, deep and involving (the two figures in the winter garden... the Flora-girls running through the corridors... ), while others are outright boring.
History... yes, it helps enormously, as otherwise many scenes simply have no meaning. On balance that was the weakest part, I think.
AND... most importantly, I think.... one should constantly be turning head, looking left and right, like a tourist on a London double-decker, except one moving at 100mph - as the scenery in the film is simply without an equal anywhere in the world.
There is no question a foreigner will get very different impression from it than an educated Russian, and I still consider it to a large degree a tourist promo work, but I do not regret seeing it, and would not mind seeing it again. Of course I am spoiled - I walked through Hermitage in March, and will walk again in September.
All in all, not an easy film to swallow for an unprepared viewer.
We're bound for the Hermitage sooner or later. My wife has been dying to see it and in fact suggested it for our honeymoon. I can't remember how we ended up in Provence instead.
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A must, if you haven't seen it. Unfortunately also one of those cases where HDTV makes no difference, as the image quality is intentionally shitty beyond belief - typical Sokurov's signature, boring in itself in extreme... his childish "trademark"? Like an objectinable smell it follows him, and seeing many of his films I still refuse to believe they would not gain something by using better film stock. Seeing the pale ill-defined shadows move on the screen is not something I usually enjoy.
dc
Ark is actually perhaps his most watchable movie - try some earlier ones, from the time when he developed his ugly touch.I presume he knew that the Ark's target audience (foreigners, for sure... we've been through this one!) would not tolerate the images of the Molokh, so he had to tone his "artistism" down great deal.
I believe his "touch" indeed originated from bad film stock, but as I have not been exacty the student of his art, I will not swear to that at this moment. I will find out for sure - one friend is his fan and has all his films.
z
...he didn't remember that episode. I don't know where I heard/read about it, just remember the fact itself... maybe someone pulled my leg.He referred me to Sokurov's web site, modestly called Sokurov's Island, and I poked around that one, it is in Russian, of course, but also no mention of that story... so at this point consider it for what it's worth.
art book of the Hermitage's collection.
I'd guess the director's a geezer...it smells like one of those art movies of the sixties. You know, with glacial pacing to appeal to the literatti.
I agree that a familiarity with subject would help while watching the film - I would still recommend watching it afterwards.May I raise the stakes a bit? How about actually visiting the place? Easily accessible these days... I have had American friends do various tours quite inexpensively, with a few days there.
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