Trailer for aleksandr sokurovs francofonia brings the. Sep 03, 2011 in one breath is a documentary about the making of aleksandr sokurovs 2002 film russian ark, one of the dreamiest, most sublime movies ive ever experienced. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. But youre right, theres much more to russian ark than its cinematography. Not all films can be like russian ark, of course, and its debatable if they could or should. He has done this by contriving a kind of installationexhibit. Trailer for aleksandr sokurovs francofonia brings the louvre to life written by nick newman on march 2, 2016 although the basic setup of aleksandr sokurov s francofonia recalls his groundbreaking russian ark still the directors bestknown film reactions indicate were dealing with an altogether different, no less. In addition, we have asked wellknown critics and film historians for their responses to sokurovs film.
An ending foreshadowed now in a great film, aleksnader sokurovs russian ark. According to in one breath, the documentary on the making of the film, four attempts were made. Aug 15, 2014 aleksandr sokurovs days of eclipse screens august 22 in strange lands. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle coronavirus. Behind the scenes documentary on the filming of russian ark. Why japanese will be last to see alexander sokurovs film. In russian ark, an unnamed narrator wanders through the winter palace in saint petersburg, and implies that he died in some horrible accident and is a ghost drifting through the palace.
Russian ark by alexander sokurov alexander sokurov. Making of russian ark, with on camera personal views by members of the cast and crew of the major film. It has been almost six months since i put one of these up, not because i havent been streaming films, but because i am lazy. Russian ark 2002 nostalgia is always beautiful tyranny. Sokurov who has enjoyed a long creative relationship with tarkovsky has discounted such comparisons, but certain similarities between their works remain indelible. Its a story about the lives of people in the russian countryside in the beginning of the 20th century. Not rated, 96 minutes russian ark was shown as part of this years new york film festival. Its a 96minute film shot in one take and, almost as amazingly, it seems impossibly effortless. Director alexander sokurov has made some fine films after this russian ark, for instance, or some of his documentaries but this, one of his first movies, is basically unwatchable. Before his most recent film alexandra, he completed the first three features of a planned tetraology on leading rulers of the 20th century, including moloch 1999 about hitler, taurus 2000 about lenin and.
Nov 29, 2017 two hundred years of russian history are enacted in the heritage museum with a cast of thousands in one take. One of the most important directors in both russian and world cinema, alexander sokurov is considered by many to be the spiritual heir of the great andrei tarkovsky. Review of russian ark directed by aleksandr sokurov home. Russian ark is a 2002 experimental historical drama film directed by alexander sokurov. Of course, nearly all of the great directors have experimented with long takeshitchcock and welles, ophuls and antonioni, ozu and tarkovskybut sokurovs commitment to the concept is almost unparalleled, largely because russian arks form and content are so perfectly attuned. From russian ark, a russian historical film directed by alexander sokurov, and filmed entirely in the winter palace of the russian state hermitage museum using a single steadicam sequence shot aleksandr sokurovs films include russian ark, mother and son, faust, the story of film. The east european film bulletin is a journalistic and literary project dedicated to the criticism of films related to central, eastern and southeastern europe. The hermitage museum could be closed only a short time, so the film was shot on december 23, the shortest day of the year in 2001.
The film is sokurovs feature film debut and is based on the novel the river potudan by andrei platonov. As harte argues, the film s unique premise and setting allow sokurov to convey how the museum, its art and history, and. In one breath alexander sokurovs russian ark making of. The technical accomplishment and the film s thematic.
And that was the philosophy of director alexsandr sokurovs vision of russian ark, an extremely unusual film for many reasons. The film has a distorted color register which when enlarged gives slight halos to figures, but certainly throws us back into that time period. There really is nothing comparable to this singlebreath cinematography. The first feature film ever created in a single take. Russian arks aleksandr sokurov invades the louvre in francofonia. It took four years to prepare to make russian ark and one day to film it. The first thing someone will notice is that the entire film was filmed on a 34inch sony umatic magnetic tape which gives the same look as the television news footage in chile of that time. Russian ark was, as sokurov has stated, an attempt to make a film in one breath. This is an art film quite literally, as well as in genre. Malick is capable of narrative filmmaking, but sokurovs idea of story is more febrile. He was born with a disability because of an anatomic defect of his leg, in 1951 in podorvikha village in siberian russia.
In one breath making of documentary hubert robert, a fortunate life short film by alexander sokurov. Making of russian ark 2002, with on camera personal views by members of the cast and crew of the major film. Jan 19, 2016 russian ark is a 2002 historical drama film directed by alexander sokurov. Alexander sokurov biography, movie highlights and photos. The third in a trilogy of films by the russian director alexander sokurov that has already depicted pivotal moments in the lives of hitler and lenin, the sun dramatises japans defeated wartime. Its been six days since russian ark was announced as our film of the week, so hopefully yall have had enough time to watch it. Russian ark, for example, has little substantive plot other than the flow of rooms and history. Roundtable on alexander sokurovs film russian ark artmargins. Alexander sokurovs russian ark russkiy kovcheg, 2002. He is the great russian director who once shot a whole film in a single take. Isochrony and the storydiscourse distinction in alexander sokurovs russian ark robert efird bio in an uninterrupted ninetyminute shot alexander sokurovs russian ark 2002 guides the viewer through nearly three hundred years of russian history and several kilometers of the state hermitage museum in st. But alexander sokurovs russian ark has every right to the claim. It came out on dvd in the uk over three years ago and, by converting my hard earned dollars into expensive british pounds, i had the opportunity to see this film at that time.
Petersburgs hermitage museum that effectively guaranteed sokurov a place in the history books of film. With jens meurer, tilman buttner, ron holloway, sergey dreyden. His most significant works include a feature film, russian ark 2002, filmed in a single unedited shot, and faust 2011, which was honoured with the golden lion, the highest prize for the best film at the venice film festival. The actors had to be strategically placed through the museum so that they would enter their part with the flow of the cameraman who is attached by an umbilical to a batter and to a sound and. Faust and mephistopheles may not be quite as abstract as the narrator and the european who walked us through the. The film uses a single, 96 minute steadicam sequence shot, chronicling 300 years of russian history within the winter palace in st petersburg all. The movie consists of one unbroken shot lasting the entire length of the film, as a camera glides through the hermitage, the repository of russian art and history in st. Thirdly, it is a wistful apologia for the tsarist regime. Sokurovs much debated film russian ark is a film of many paradoxes. It helps not only to understand the process of the making of that film, but also to support the narrative.
Alexander sokurovs film russian ark is one of the most beautifully made films of the 21st century. The film was completed in 1979 as a graduation film, but was. Alexander sokurovs russian ark 2003 is more than simply a tour of the state hermitage museum of saint petersburg. A modern filmmaker magically finds himself transported to the 18th century where he embarks on a timetraveling journey through 300 years of russian history. The school of cinema opens its the best of soviet and russian cinema course to the public on wednesday evenings this fall. Alexander sokurov s russian ark 2003 is more than simply a tour of the state hermitage museum of saint petersburg. Alexander sokurovs russian ark 44min documentary, short video 9 september 2003 making of russian ark 2002, with on camera personal views by members of the cast and crew of the major film. In one breath alexander sokurovs russian ark making of views. The video transfer is solid but prone to occasional artifacts.
Prepare yourself for a thoroughly outofmainstream experience. Nov 14, 2011 he is the great russian director who once shot a whole film in a single take. We are hoping this event draws a large crowd from all of the departments in the school for the studies in art and culture as a chance for everyone to meet, mingle, and enjoy a fantastic film. Sep 01, 2015 even if youre not familiar with his arthouse fare like the sun, alexandra, and faust, youve likely heard of alexander sokurovs russian ark. However, when i saw that alexander sokurovs mindbending russian ark hit netflix this week, i knew that i had to rewatch it and share this fantastic film i was fortunate enough to see this film in the theatre at the music box in chicago, no less and was. In this close analysis of aleksandr sokurovs 2002 film russkii kovcheg russian ark, tim harte explores the interplay between the medium of painting and cinema in this unprecedented ninetyminute singleshot film set in the grand halls and galleries of the hermitage museum. Secondly, it is a technical exercise in so far as it is a film made up of one continuous 96 minute long take. Sokurov has found a way to meditate on the nature of. Russian filmmaker alexander sokurov broke boundaries with his dreamlike vision of the hermitage in st. Russian ark one shot is what its all about homeschool.
Jul 14, 2016 alexander sokurovs spellbinding masterpiece russian ark is a multiaward winning film consisting of one unbroken camera shot that moves through st. Its the first featurelength narrative film shot in a single take on digital video, using a specially designed disc instead of tape. The daughter grew up to become the queen of france, marie antoinette. Jul 01, 2010 in his latest novella, point omega, his filmmaker protagonist describes it as an ideal for the kind of truth hed like to capture in one of his own films.
The uk release of sokurovs russian ark 2002, the first feature film to be shot in a single unbroken take, revisits an issue which, in one form or another, goes right back to the beginnings of cinema. Probably not, but it does satisfy the desire to see how the one take was done. In sokurovs eurocentric pointofview, the continent represents historical and cultural continuity, often unresolved. Russian ark 100 years of soviet cinema senses of cinema. Making of russian ark, with on camera personal views by members of the cast. Alexander sokurov, in one breath, hermitage bridge studio. After thirtysix hours of setting up, the crew had just four hours to complete shooting during daylight between 12. Russian filmmaker alexander sokurov the sun broke boundaries with his dreamlike vision of the hermitage in st. Do films represent reality, viewed in a continuous realtime manner as we see. Alexander sokurovs russian ark 2002 appears as the apex of this. Firstly, it is a love letter to the winter palace now occupied by the russian state hermitage museum. The uk release of sokurovs russian ark 2002, the first feature film to be shot in a. Im pretty sure this is a scene from alexander sokurovs exquisitely beautiful film russian ark.
The internet provides many websites in english for those who want to know more about the logistics behind the film s unique feat of cinematography, but very little specifically about the history and culture behind the film. Alexander sokurovs alexandra perverse egalitarianism. In one breath, and some interviews all of which are rounded out by a relatively lengthy documentary looking at the setting of the film, the hermitage museum. Hayden white theory on the subject are a complete fabrication, and inescapably. After the sumptuous russian ark, director aleksandr sokurov. The result is a dreamlike fluidity that never comes off as sloppy. One of most important contemporary filmmakers, sokurov worked extensively in television and later graduated from the prestigious film school, vgik, in 1979. In fact, while the film may officially belong to sokurovs power cycle, it could just as easily be cast as a diptych counterpartthis time inspired more by german culture than frenchto russian ark 02. In europe, europe is everywhere, says aleksandr sokurov early in francofonia. More than just a gimmick, the film s one shot construction becomes an artistically potent part of its success, helping to create a fantastical and extravagant celebration of art, history, and culture. The echo on our publication of dragan kujundzics essay on alexander sokurovs film russian ark russkij kovcheg has been very lively. Although alexander sokurovs the sun 2004 has made the rounds at a handful of north american film festivals, it is only now receiving a far overdue short run in nyc.
International scifi at the film society of lincoln center genre is the great friend of political allegory, particularly inside authoritarian states. In one breath is a documentary about the making of aleksandr sokurovs 2002 film russian ark, one of the dreamiest, most sublime movies ive ever experienced. Russian ark 2002 alexandr sokurov, aleksandr sokurov. I agree that this is essential, either before seeing or between viewings of russian ark. It is followed this week by another text or echo on the film by raoul eshelman. Not only is russian ark the longest shot in film history, it is also the first feature film ever created in a. Alexander sokurovs russian ark is an amazing accomplishment, and clearly made with passion, but while the film is sure to be hailed as a masterpiece by some, its narrative conceit isnt nearly as interesting as the technical feat of its creation. The empress gave birth to a daughter on november 2, 1755, the day after the all saints day earthquake in lisbon. All of these, and maybe some visual essays about the film, its use of steadicam, and maybe a look at the historical. Filmed mostly with a fly on the wall style there are very few closeups, the shortcomings of this film are too many to mention. The cinematographer tillman buttner, using a steadicam and highdef digital technology, joined with some 2,000 actors in an tightwire act in which. Theres a russian film, feature film, russian ark, aleksandr sokurov. The result is a unique and intelligent film with sporadic moments of transcendent beauty that. In order to really appreciate this film, one must have a pretty comprehensive knowledge of the history of the russian aristocracy.
Project muse isochrony and the storydiscourse distinction. A single extended shot, about a thousand actors and extras, three orchestras, history, fantasy, crowd scenes. Fortunately, the final take was a success and the film was completed at 90 minutes. Alexander sokurovs spellbinding masterpiece russian ark is a multiaward winning film consisting of one unbroken camera shot that moves through st. A web guide to the history found in russian ark, a film by. As much as one might want to rib this tautologywhich sounds better in russian than it reads it englishit makes a point. Streamer of the week alexandr sokurovs russian ark. Its the first featurelength narrative film shot in a single take. Alexander sokurovs russian ark russkiy kovcheg, 2002 vol. Russian ark the movie consists of one unbroken shot lasting the entire length of the film, as a camera glides through the hermitage, the repository of russian art and history in st. The entirety of russian ark unfolds in one continuous take, with not a single cut in its 99 minutes even though there are ballroom dance scenes and orchestras and other massive set pieces. In this new century alone hes been making movies for over 40 years, his work has spanned the groundbreaking one take museum piece, russian ark, to the breathtakingly strange and beautiful father and son to the sun narratively documenting the abdication of the japanese emperor at the close of wwii to the nearly unbearably. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. As an introduction to architecture in film, and as a showcase of creative filming techniques, we were shown a screening of russian ark, a russian film directed by alexander sokurov.
Aleksandr sokurov talks to steve rose about soviet spies, fallen dictators and how he got putin to fund his latest. Alexander sokurov, seeking new shadows in a dark classic. In a single, unbroken shot lasting over 90 minutes, the viewer is swept not just through the breadth of the physical space but through hundreds of years of russian history, slipping back and forth in time as the unseen narrator the camera serves as the roving point of view of. Russian ark is a 2002 historical drama film directed by alexander sokurov. In one breath the making of russian ark biblioklept.
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