I've always liked kris kristopherson, he does things his way.
Well, we saw the Russian Ark, and I came home to read a few more reviews, to see what I was missing. This one sums up my feelings, and Yen's, and the couple we went with..
RUSSIAN ARK
by Phil Hall
(2002-10-12)
2002, Un-rated, 87 Minutes, A Wellspring Release
"Russian Ark" is a thoroughly boring movie pegged to a
technological novelty: the 87-minute feature was shot in a single
take using a special high-definition video camera. Unfortunately,
the film is not being projected in digital video for its theatrical
release, but is instead being shown in a 35mm print where reel
changes create hiccups in the continuity. (The transfer from HD to
35mm also creates a fairly muddy color palette.) So much for being
digitally clever.
Director Alexander Sokurov (whose last film was the equally
monotonous "Taurus") invented a bizarre story in which an unseen
contemporary Russian inexplicably finds himself in St. Petersburg's Hermitage in the company of a boorish 19th century
French diplomat; the film is intended as the contemporary Russian's POV. The unlikely duo wander from room to room
where they encounter a mix of Russians from various eras. In one room, there's Peter the Great, in another there's
Catherine the Great, in another there's Nicholas and Alexandra, and then in another there are modern day Russians
gazing at the Hermitage's celebrated art collection. The crash of centuries occurs without any rhyme or reason, creating
further confusion. The French diplomat (a bedraggled-looking Sergey Dreiden, speaking Russian without any trace of a
French accent while bearing a striking resemblance to the Scarecrow in "The Turkish Wizard of Oz") amuses himself by
sniffing the paintings with a fetishist fervor and annoying the various people of the different eras. The unseen
contemporary Russian, speaking in hushed tones, is embarrassed by his French comrade but never gets around to
asking him to behave properly.
For the most part, "Russian Ark" is little more than a travelogue designed to show off the grandeur of the Hermitage, with
the silly actors in fancy costumes getting in the way of the paintings and sculptures on display. It is a pity Sokurov didn't
make a straightforward documentary on the Hermitage and its rich history instead of creating this not-very-interesting
novelty film. Indeed, anyone outside of St. Petersburg who wants to see the Hermitage without wasting time and money
on "Russian Ark" can click their browsers to www.hermitage.ru and enjoy the best digital tour of the mighty museum
available. |
