Aleksander SokurovAleksander Sokurov(b.1951)(b.1951)

Aleksander Sokurov (1951)Aleksander Sokurov (1951)• First worked as TV program directorFirst worked as TV program director

• Educated as historianEducated as historian

• Educated at the VGIK as film directorEducated at the VGIK as film director

• Produced numerous documentaries, Produced numerous documentaries, ““elegieselegies””; first feature films were banned ; first feature films were banned (in early 1980s). Later films received (in early 1980s). Later films received numerous prizes (Cannes, Venice, Toronto, numerous prizes (Cannes, Venice, Toronto, etc.) etc.)

Sokurov’s poeticSokurov’s poetic

• Friend of Tarkovsky, develops Friend of Tarkovsky, develops TarkovskyTarkovsky’’s line in cinema: dreams, s line in cinema: dreams, reflections on the past, long takesreflections on the past, long takes

• Indivisibility of time and spaceIndivisibility of time and space

• Sound track as a separate, parallel Sound track as a separate, parallel experienceexperience

Selected filmographySelected filmography

• The Lonely Voice of a Man The Lonely Voice of a Man (1979-1987)(1979-1987)• The Degraded The Degraded (1980) (1980) • Painful Indifference Painful Indifference (1983–1987) (1983–1987) • Days of Eclipse Days of Eclipse (1988) (1988) • Save and Protect Save and Protect (1989) (1989) • The Second Circle The Second Circle (1990) (1990) • Stone Stone (1992) (1992) • Mother and SonMother and Son (1996) (1996) • Moloch Moloch (1999) (1999) • Taurus Taurus (2000) (2000) • Russian Ark Russian Ark (2002) (2002) • Father and Son Father and Son (2003) (2003) • The Sun The Sun (2004) (2004) • Alexandra Alexandra (2007) (2007) • FaustFaust (2011) (2011)

Russian ArkRussian Ark (2002) (2002)

Russian ArkRussian Ark

Several genres combined: Several genres combined:

• sci-fi (time machine) sci-fi (time machine)

• historical filmhistorical film

• documentary (life of the museum)documentary (life of the museum)

• poetic cinema (dream-like quality)poetic cinema (dream-like quality)

• Film about film; ironically, no Film about film; ironically, no filmfilm – – digital technologydigital technology

Russian ArkRussian Ark

• A passage through 300 years of A passage through 300 years of history and culture represented by the history and culture represented by the Hermitage (its collection founded by Hermitage (its collection founded by Catherine the Great in 1764)Catherine the Great in 1764)

• ““History and life, history and artHistory and life, history and art””; ; ““simple things put in simple wordssimple things put in simple words”” (Sokurov)(Sokurov)

• The meaning of the title: the biblical The meaning of the title: the biblical story of Noah; culture as the ark that story of Noah; culture as the ark that keeps the nation afloat.keeps the nation afloat.

Russian ArkRussian Ark

• An encounter of a European (presumably, An encounter of a European (presumably, Marquis de Marquis de CustineCustine, author of , author of Russia in Russia in 18391839) and a Russian (invisible, the voice ) and a Russian (invisible, the voice behind the camerabehind the camera’’s s ““eyeeye””).).

• The two wander throughout the halls and The two wander throughout the halls and staircases of the Hermitage as well as staircases of the Hermitage as well as through different epochs.through different epochs.

• Both have no idea how they got there Both have no idea how they got there (( ““accidentaccident”” in case of the Russian). Unseen in case of the Russian). Unseen by most other people.by most other people.

The European The European ““guestguest””/ghost/ghost

Marquis Astolphe de Custine Marquis Astolphe de Custine (1790-1857)(1790-1857)

• Son of a revolutionary general who was Son of a revolutionary general who was guillotined.guillotined.

• Catholic, monarchist.Catholic, monarchist.

• Began as diplomat, entered politics, then after a Began as diplomat, entered politics, then after a scandal became a novelist and finally travel scandal became a novelist and finally travel writer.writer.

• Immensely rich, art connoisseur.Immensely rich, art connoisseur.

• Went to Russia in 1839, wrote a book Went to Russia in 1839, wrote a book La Russie La Russie en 1839en 1839, banned in Russia., banned in Russia.

• Translated into Russian only in 1996Translated into Russian only in 1996

Russian ArkRussian Ark

• Celebration of a passing, never Celebration of a passing, never repeated moment (as in theatre: repeated moment (as in theatre: impossible to edit mistakes)impossible to edit mistakes)

• TarkovskyTarkovsky’’s principles taken to the s principles taken to the extreme (long takes replaced by one-extreme (long takes replaced by one-shot film)shot film)

• Uninterrupted continuity of the film Uninterrupted continuity of the film serves as metaphor for continuity of serves as metaphor for continuity of historyhistory

Sokurov against EisensteinSokurov against Eisenstein

• Total opposite of the montage cinema (ironically, Total opposite of the montage cinema (ironically, S. received Eisenstein scholarship as a student)S. received Eisenstein scholarship as a student)

• Dream in place of Dream in place of ““documentarydocumentary””• Individuals vs depersonalized Individuals vs depersonalized ““massesmasses””• Beauty vs roughnessBeauty vs roughness• High culture vs barbarism (sailors at the High culture vs barbarism (sailors at the

Hermitage – revolutionary sailors in Hermitage – revolutionary sailors in OctoberOctober))• The aristocratic crowd leaving the stage of history The aristocratic crowd leaving the stage of history

(the Hermitage) with dignity vs the revolutionary (the Hermitage) with dignity vs the revolutionary mob rushing into the palacemob rushing into the palace

The Palace Square, 19The Palace Square, 19thth cent.cent.

EisensteinEisenstein’’s s OctoberOctober

1919thth-cent. view-cent. view

Russian ArkRussian Ark: The room where Provisional : The room where Provisional Government was arrested in 1917, shown in pre-Government was arrested in 1917, shown in pre-revolutionary peacerevolutionary peace

Russian ArkRussian Ark: Quotes: Quotes

• ““Russia is like a theatreRussia is like a theatre””• ““What kind of play is this? LetWhat kind of play is this? Let’’s hope its hope it’’s not s not

a tragedya tragedy””• ““In any case, itIn any case, it’’s too late to interfere. s too late to interfere.

Everything has already happenedEverything has already happened””• ““Russian music makes me break out in hiveRussian music makes me break out in hive

ss””• ““Everyone can see the future, but no one Everyone can see the future, but no one

remembers the pastremembers the past””• ““LetLet’’s go! – Where? – Forward!s go! – Where? – Forward!””

MakingMaking Russian Ark Russian Ark

• Two years of work on the project. The Two years of work on the project. The route of the camera carefully plannedroute of the camera carefully planned

• 36 hours to prepare the setting36 hours to prepare the setting• December 23, the shortest day of the yearDecember 23, the shortest day of the year• About 4 hours of rehearsalsAbout 4 hours of rehearsals• 90 minutes to shoot the 90 minute film in 90 minutes to shoot the 90 minute film in

a single continuous take (a single continuous take (““film made in film made in one breathone breath”” - Sokurov) - Sokurov)

• Digitally enhanced last imageDigitally enhanced last image

MakingMaking Russian Ark Russian Ark

• About 2000 costumes About 2000 costumes made for the filmmade for the film

• Over 1000 extras Over 1000 extras participatingparticipating

• Real historical objects Real historical objects (porcelain, furniture, (porcelain, furniture, some jewellery, etc)some jewellery, etc)

• Mariinsky Theatre Mariinsky Theatre orchestra, conductor orchestra, conductor Valerii GergievValerii Gergiev

Tillman BTillman Büüttner, ttner, Steadicam operator (German). Steadicam operator (German).

Sokurov rehearses with the Sokurov rehearses with the extrasextras

The actual Hermitage The actual Hermitage treasurestreasuresprepared for shootingprepared for shooting

Each scene carefully Each scene carefully plannedplanned

The cameraman at workThe cameraman at work