Russian Ark: The Masterworks Edition

Movie / Show Details

Russian Ark is a 2002 fantasy-drama directed by Aleksandr Sokurov that follows a ghost and a French marquis as they journey through the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Shot as one continuous, unbroken take using digital video, the film moves through centuries of Russian history, presenting encounters with figures like Catherine II, Nicholas II’s family, and contemporary visitors to the Hermitage. The experimental narrative weaves together the grandeur of past eras with the traumas of the twentieth century, collapsing time itself as the characters pass through gallery after gallery of art and architectural splendor, culminating in an elaborate ball sequence.

This Masterworks Edition from Wellspring Media presents the film on two DVDs with a runtime of 99 minutes and carries a Not Rated designation. The release includes director’s commentary and features a cast including Aleksandr Chaban, Aleksei Barabash, and Alla Osipenko, with cinematography by Tilman Buttner. Own this audacious technical achievement on physical media at a used price.