Alexander Sokurov and the Russian soul

This article discusses Sokurov's recently acclaimed film Russian Ark/Russki kovcheg. While giving full due to the film's technical innovation (the single, uninterrupted 90-minute take), the authors examine the relationship of the film's style to its content, and the film's exploration of the Russian soul through the dialogue of the Russian ‘narrator’ and the French ‘protagonist’. The themes of art and history as developed in the film are the main focus of scrutiny.