Russian Ark (2002)

Shot in one continues 96 minute steadicam take, the longest single unedited shot in cinema history, Russian Ark is a wonder, a beautiful, beautiful motion picture. Filmed at St Petersburg historic Winter Palace, now part of the state Hermitage museum, the film displays 33 rooms of the museum, which are filled with a cast of over 2,000 actors and 3 orchestras. Once the home of Tsar's and now the home of arguably the greatest art collection in Russia, the film is a dreamlike journey throughout the place, your guides are a faceless narrator (director Alexander Sokurov),and the French Marquis de Custine (Sergei Dontsov), who in a dream like state and unstuck in time travel through the rooms of the palace as they represent different eras and encounter such Russian  historical figures as Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Nicholas the 1st and 2nd, as well as various party guest, solders staff, museum visitors and others. It's a beautiful place, beautifully filmed, with beautiful people in beautiful costumes, and it just becomes hypnotic. This is a truly original piece of film making, firing creatively and artistically on all cylinders. I loved it and  plan on purchasing a copy. ****