History Film / RussianArk

* NoPlotNoProblem: A rare cinematic example of a video game trope. It's a meditation on Russian history, it's costume porn, it's an exhibition of a beautiful building with great artwork on the walls, but there's no story. Nothing actually happens. Though of course, if you know your Russian history, there is an ever present sense of what is about, or has, happened in and around the building, felt most clearly during the coffin scene.

* NoPlotNoProblem: A rare cinematic example of a video game trope. It's a meditation on Russian history, it's costume porn, it's an exhibition of a beautiful building with great artwork on the walls, but there's no story. Nothing actually happens.

''Russian Ark'' is a 2002 film from [[CaptainObvious Russia]], directed by Alexander Sokurov.

The film follows an unseen narrator and his guest, a Frenchman named Custine, through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in [[UsefulNotes/TheCityFormerlyKnownAs Saint Petersburg]] as they talk about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum, bouncing around in time from the modern day to UsefulNotes/JosephStalin's era to UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia and back again. ''Russian Ark'' is something of a miracle in filmmaking: The entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.

* SceneryPorn

* UnbrokenFirstPersonPerspective: The entire movie is a rare, non-video game example.

The film follows an unseen narrator and his guest, a Frenchman named Custine, through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in [[TheCityFormerlyKnownAs Saint Petersburg]] as they talk about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum, bouncing around in time from the modern day to UsefulNotes/JosephStalin's era to UsefulNotes/TsaristRussia and back again. ''Russian Ark'' is something of a miracle in filmmaking: The entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.

The film follows an unseen narrator and his guest, a Frenchman named Custine, through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in [[TheCityFormerlyKnownAs Saint Petersburg]] as they talk about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum, bouncing around in time from the modern day to UsefulNotes/JosephStalin's era to TsaristRussia and back again. ''Russian Ark'' is something of a miracle in filmmaking: The entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.

* TsaristRussia

''Russian Ark'' is a 2002 film from [[CaptainObvious Russia]], directed by Alexander Sokurov. The film follows an unseen narrator and his guest, a Frenchman named Custine, through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in [[TheCityFormerlyKnownAs Saint Petersburg]] as they talk about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum, bouncing around in time from the modern day to UsefulNotes/JosephStalin's era to TsaristRussia and back again. ''Russian Ark'' is something of a miracle in filmmaking: The entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.

* LeaveTheCameraRunning: The entire film can be considered a literal example of this trope.

''Russian Ark'' is a 2002 film from [[CaptainObvious Russia]], directed by Alexander Sokurov. The film follows an unseen narrator and his guest, a Frenchman named Custine, through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in [[TheCityFormerlyKnownAs Saint Petersburg]] as they talk about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum, bouncing around in time from the modern day to UsefulNotes/JosephStalin's era to TsaristRussia and back again. ''Russian Ark'' is something of a miracle in filmmaking: the entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.

* ForegoneConclusion: See those beautiful young girls in their gowns, running around the palace? [[RedOctober Something very bad is going to happen to them.]]
* FourthWallObserver: The Marquis de Custine (aka "the European"). Subverted as he's talking to the Unseen Narrator.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Several tsars and nobles and the like, as well as the Marquis de Custine, the narrator's companion. The real Marquis de Custine visited Russia in 1839 and wrote a book about his experience. He was not impressed. The film's Marquis seems to have more respect for Russian culture by the end of the film.

* MindScrew: The narrator and his French companion Custine flit back and fourth over nearly three hundred years of Russian history. For a while it seems like no one can see them, until Custine starts interacting with people. The narrator for his part seems invisible to everyone but Custine--except for a time or two where he isn't, like the scene from the modern day where the narrator introduces Custine to some of his friends.

* TranslatorMicrobes: ''Something'' is allowing the Marquis de Custine to speak and understand Russian-- a language he apparently couldn't speak before the beginning of the movie. It may have something to do with him possibly maybe being a ghost himself. [[MindScrew Probably. Maybe.]]

* UnstuckInTime: The narrator and Custine bounce around from the the reign of Peter the Great to the modern day, completely at random.

''Russian Ark'' is a 2002 film from [[CaptainObvious Russia]], directed by Alexander Sokurov. The film -- which follows an unseen narrarator through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in [[TheCityFormerlyKnownAs Saint Petersburg]] as he talks about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum -- is something of a miracle in filmmaking: the entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.

* {{Blooper}}: When all of the people are pouring down the staircase, one of the women trips and is [[{{Corpsing}} laughing]] when she gets back up.

''Russian Ark'' is a 2002 film from [[CaptainObvious Russia]], directed by Alexander Sokurov. The film -- which follows an unseen narrarator through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg as he talks about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum -- is something of a miracle in filmmaking: the entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.

* ForegoneConcusion: See those beautiful young girls in their gowns, running around the palace? [[RedOctober Something very bad is going to happen to them.]]

* DeadToBeginWith: The Narrator. The opening dialogue establishes that the narrator was in an accident and "everyone ran for safety as best they could." Of course, the true state of affairs is a bit Mind Screwy, what with him being able to interact with people from various different times, some of whom can see him and some of whom can't.

* TheOner: Yep, that would be a 96-minute Oner.

* AnachronicOrder: Sort of--the scenes shown in the movie are scrambled around chronologically

* CostumePorn
* [[spoiler:DeadToBeginWith]]: The Narrator. It's implied he [[spoiler:died in an accident before the film began and now his spirit is floating around the museum.]] Of course, the true state of affairs is a bit Mind Screwy, what with him being able to interact with people from various different times, some of whom can see him and some of whom can't.

* FourthWallObserver: The Marquis de Custine, Subverted as he's talking to the Unseen Narrator.
* MindScrew
* {{Narrator}}

* TheOner
* POVCam

* TranslatorMicrobes: ''Something'' is allowing the Marquis de Custine to speak and understand Russian-- a language he apparently couldn't speak before the beginning of the movie. [[spoiler:It may have something to do with him possibly maybe being a ghost himself. [[MindScrew Probably. Maybe.]]]]

''Russian Ark'' is a 2002 film from (obviously) Russia, directed by Alexander Sokurov. The film -- which follows an unseen narrarator through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg as he talks about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum -- is something of a miracle in filmmaking: the entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.