Russian Ark
2002 · Movie · NR · 99 min · ★ 7.2 · 88% critics
A drifting, ghostlike guide leads viewers through a grand palace museum, moving from room to room as different eras of Russian history appear around them. Part guided tour and part dream, it strings together vivid tableaux, music, and conversation into a single, continuous journey through art, culture, and time.
Where to watch
Streaming on Kino Film Collection.
2 hours to watch.
Stream (included)
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Details
- Original title
- Русский ковчег
- Years
- 2002
- Release date
- 2002-05-22
- Language
- Russian
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 99 min
- Critic score
- 88/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.2/10 (508 votes)
- Box office
- $8,700,000
About
You may enjoy this if you like hypnotic, experimental films that feel like a wandering time-capsule through art and history, similar to Waking Life; Not for you if you need a clear plot, fast pacing, or lots of action.
Pros: mesmerizing dreamlike atmosphere; lavish period scenes; impressive continuous journey | Cons: slow and monotonous; thin story; can feel like museum tour
Themes
- museum
- time travel
- st. petersburg, russia
- russian history
- one take
Awards & recognition
- Nika Award — Best Costume Design · 2004
- European Film Award — Best Cinematographer · 2002 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Director · 2002 · nominated
Cast & crew
Sergey Dreyden
as The Stranger (The Marquis de Custine)
Mariya Kuznetsova
as Catherine The Great
Leonid Mozgovoy
as The Spy
- MP
Mikhail Piotrovsky
as Self (Hermitage Director)
Edisher (Davit) Giorgobiani
as Orbeli
Aleksandr Chaban
as Boris Piotrovsky
Lev Eliseev
as Self
- OK
Oleg Khmelnitsky
as Self
Alla Osipenko
as Self
- AS
Artyom Strelnikov
as Talented Boy
Directed by Aleksandr Sokurov