Russian Ark
Russian Ark is a 2002 film from (obviously) Russia, directed by Alexander Sokurov. The film -- which follows an unseen narrarator through the Russian State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg as he talks about the history of the city and the artifacts within the museum -- is something of a miracle in filmmaking: the entire film (around 93 minutes, excluding the credits) was shot using a single Steadicam in one continuous, uninterrupted take. When you realize that this film has over 2,000 actors in it, this feat becomes even more incredible.
Tropes used in Russian Ark include:
- Blooper: When all of the people are pouring down the staircase, one of the women trips and is laughing when she gets back up.
- Costume Porn
- Dead to Begin With: The Narrator. It's implied he died in an accident before the film began and now his spirit is floating around the museum. Of course, the true state of affairs is a bit Mind Screwy, what with him being able to interact with people from various different times, some of whom can see him and some of whom can't.
- The Everyman: Nearly a Featureless Protagonist, since all we know is that he's a male, present-day Russian.
- Mind Screw
- Narrator
- Leave the Camera Running: The entire film can be considered a literal example of this trope.
- The Oner
- POV Cam
- Public Domain Soundtrack: A tune by Mikhail Glinka is used during the final dance.
- Real Person Cameo: The Marquis de Custine, albeit credited as the European, is the main one. We also see Peter I, Catherine the Great, Alexander Pushkin, and so forth.
- Scenery Porn
- Translator Microbes: Something is allowing the Marquis de Custine to speak and understand Russian-- a language he apparently couldn't speak before the beginning of the movie. It may have something to do with him possibly maybe being a ghost himself. Probably. Maybe.
- Tsarist Russia