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[kgrey]

hello,

I'm sure this has been discussed already, but I just joined and am contemplating purchasing the DVD "The Russian Ark". My mom, who visited the Hermitage last year says it felt nothing like the museum, that the movie seemed absurd and dull-as I'm trying to connect with my Russian heritage (my father was russian) I thought it would be a nice addition to my collection. I know, I know-I should just rent it first, but thought I'd ask you all for your opinion-
thanks!

[Voyager13b]

Originally posted by kgrey
hello,

I'm sure this has been discussed already, but I just joined and am contemplating purchasing the DVD "The Russian Ark". My mom, who visited the Hermitage last year says it felt nothing like the museum, that the movie seemed absurd and dull-as I'm trying to connect with my Russian heritage (my father was russian) I thought it would be a nice addition to my collection. I know, I know-I should just rent it first, but thought I'd ask you all for your opinion-
thanks!

You are right. The movie has been discussed here in several places. When you find them, you will see that most agree with your Mom.

Maybe it has to do with your mood and surroundings when you first view it, but I thought it was wonderful, and have watched the DVD more than a few times. Some friends fall asleep when they see it, others rave about it.

I think it is a remarkable nonstop glimpse of several hundred years of history through the eyes of the Hermitage, and the art contained within it's walls.
The name of the film is appropriate.

Buy the DVD. Either you will love it, or get a good night's sleep.



Voyager

[CastleStormer]

I loved the movie! It is more than a tour. It takes you into different time periods. You see the Czars doing what they did. You see Nicholas and Alexandra sitting down to a family meal. The balls, the pomp and circumstance of visiting foreign dignitaries, behind the scenes in the opera house...all are shown there as two ghosts walk through the building.

Rent it first. It's no "Terminator" or Bruce Willis action "shoot-em-up", but it is cinematic history shot in one uninterrupted take.

[davlet]

Originally posted by kgrey
hello,

I'm sure this has been discussed already, but I just joined and am contemplating purchasing the DVD "The Russian Ark". My mom, who visited the Hermitage last year says it felt nothing like the museum, that the movie seemed absurd and dull-as I'm trying to connect with my Russian heritage (my father was russian) I thought it would be a nice addition to my collection. I know, I know-I should just rent it first, but thought I'd ask you all for your opinion-
thanks!

Hello,

Do you own any other Russian movies? "Russian Ark" definitely wouldn't be my first choice. I mean it has lots great shots of the Hermitage, great costumes, but I thought it was dull, pretentious and uninspired. It seems to me that foreigners appreciate it more than the Russians (like me, none of my Russian friends liked it), maybe it all this pomp seems kind of exotic to you guys.

Anyway, why don't you skip this 2-nd rate imitation and go for the real deal:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001789/

(esp. entries 5 thorugh 8 on that web site)

D.

[Voyager13b]

Davlet,

I was fair, and warned that Ark is not everyones cup of tea. I still like it though, and it seems that the ratio of love/hate for this film is similar among my Russian friends, as well as Americans. The film actually did well with Russian audiences. I don't hold it against you that you missed the essence of the film, but at least allow for the fact that some people really liked it .

A good case in point is Tarkovsky. You called him the real deal, but many, many people think he wasted a lot of film over the years. At least, it is suggested, that he could have edited his films down to 20 minutes each, so as to keep the audience from going to sleep. Many Russians feel that way too.

I love Tarkovsky films. I have all of his films that are published on DVD, and I think he was a remarkable director. I wish he lived in a time where his vision wasn't interfered with by the State. Who knows what he would have achieved if he lived to be an old man.

Anyway, it's too bad that you didn't like Ark, but I'm glad that we can agree on Tarkovsky. That's the nature of cinema.

Voyager

Originally posted by Voyager13b
I wish he lived in a time where his vision wasn't interfered with by the State. Who knows what he would have achieved if he lived to be an old man.

What would he have achieved without state interference? Nothing imho. Struggle is the essence of life, fighting gives birth to brilliant ideas. Calm and quiet life doesn't give any stimulus to creativity. Look at modern Russian culture and compare it to soviet (not only "official"), and you will understand what I mean.

[Voyager13b]

Originally posted by Alex_Ivanov

What would he have achieved without state interference? Nothing imho. Struggle is the essence of life, fighting gives birth to brilliant ideas. Calm and quiet life doesn't give any stimulus to creativity. Look at modern Russian culture and compare it to soviet (not only "official"), and you will understand what I mean.

Alex,

Struggle might be the essence of life, but there are degrees of struggle that must be considered. Tarkovsky struggled agaist the the Soviet system during his career. The life of an artist is in itself a struggle, but to have to struggle against State censors for the simple pleasure of expressing your ideas to the "voting" public is above and beyond the call. I was not suggesting that he should have had a calm and quiet life. I was suggesting that if he only had to deal with the public, and felt welcome in his own homeland, that his career might have reached greater heights over a longer life.

The state of Russian cinema today has more to do with the general economic situation than anything else. Directors like Tarkovsky don't grow on trees, but when another comes around, I'm thinking that he or she will have a more fertile ground from which to express ideas than was available to the first Tarkovsky.

Voyager