Directed by Aleksandr Sokurov
Matt preaches to the choir... What: The film Russian Ark, directed by master filmmaker Alexander Sokurov, featuring a 95-minute, single, continuous, unbroken shot and an unofficial "tour" of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Who: You, the average American filmgoer.
Where: Cities and towns with an artistic bent, independent theater chains, and screens refusing to compete with The Hulk or The Matrix Reloaded.
Why: An oppurtunity to ponder Russian art, fashion, and architecture while analyzing czarist Russia in contrast with the Stalinist era; to marvel in cinematic risk and boldness; to admire the audacity of shooting a film in a single take; to think deeply while being blown away by beauty and glorious imagery.
The Result: Empty theaters, indifference, deathly silence.
Now get the fuck out of here and go watch Lord of the Rings for the 388th time.
yes, I agree. Sokurov is one of the few living cinema geniuses. He pushes long takes and consequently, attention spans of his viewers. His semi-fake documentaries CONFESSION and SPIRITUAL VOICES are more extreme examples of this. Any appreciator of Russian art, culture, and histtory must see this film. The last shot is heartbreaking.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars