Russian Ark

The Masterworks Edition

"A coda that will have the movie's audience gasping in exhilarated exhaustion, whispering astonished gratitude to Sokurov for having created vigorous art...What's the Russian word for Wow!?"
-Richard Corliss, Time Magazine

"That rare thing at the movies these days: a new experience. It awes us with its technological feat, it sweeps us up in its mystical spell and, with its final scene-it takes us to an emotional climax of almost unbearable poignancy."
-William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Alexander Sokurov's (Mother and Son) cinematic tour-de-force follows a modern filmmaker who magically finds himself transported to the 18th century. There, he embarks on a time-traveling journey through 300 years of Russian history. Filmed with a cast of thousands, three live orchestras and an army of technicians, Russian Ark is the longest uninterrupted shot in film history, and the first feature film ever created in a single take.