Review of Russian Ark (2002) by Jose P — 19 Jun 2007

A bizarre experiment in film: the plot is minimal, offering little in the way of explanation of what's going on, but really, if you're watching this, it's because of the cinematography. People commended the recent "Children of Men" for it's long-take shots, but this entire movie, all 96 minutes of it, is just ONE TAKE.

When the camera starts, it goes and doesn't stop until the credits. The whole thing is filmed in the first person, and moves around a big art museum in Russia, periodically crossing paths with a certain oddball character, and seems to move in and out of time periods, as sometimes characters have modern dress and act as if they're visiting a museum, and at others we see period costumes and old Russian traditions.

This is certainly a cameraman's movie.