Only one man (Sergei Donstov) seems able to see the narrator, and he himself is sometimes invisible to those around him. He appears to be a European, either French or Italian, and he and the narrator spend “Russian Ark” in an on-again, off-again verbal sparring match about Russia’s relationship with Europe. When they hear music, the European insists it must be Italian, performed by German musicians, despite the Russian narrator’s protests. The European is paternal and head-patting when it comes to the European-influenced Russian art. The European regards Russian politics with the same combination of admiration and condescension. Like in a dream, the narrator and the European are unable to concentrate on their discussion for very long at a time. The European captures his continent’s characteristic arrogance when it comes to being civilized, cultured, and politically progressive, while the narrator embodies the Russian stereotype of being simultaneously resolved and resigned.
I know only four things about Russian history, I’m sad to say. That figure will probably double after I watch “Andrei Roublev.” Those things are as follows: 1) the Revolution, 2) the fall of Communism, 3) their intermittently successful but always determined space program, and 4) a remark my dad once made about Russia’s relationship to the world: “the Russians have been playing ‘catch-up’ ever since Peter the Great.” This last comment seems to be the most helpful when watching “Russian Ark” meditate on Russia’s identity crisis and game of catch-up. True, because my knowledge of Russian history is limited, many of the scenes in “Russian Ark” were absolutely baffling to me, but I don’t think that is to the movie’s detriment. Just like in a dream, we know something is happening, even if we’re not sure what.
Which brings us to the third hypothetical viewing of “Russian Ark:” go the library. Your assignment for this semester, students, is to go read some books about the largest country in the world before watching “Russian Ark” again. Many of us don’t like to think of movies as work, but if “Russian Ark” sparks your curiosity like it sparked mine, a trip to the library will be a pleasure and not a chore.
Of course, this kind of research is far from essential, and by using too much left-brain we may undermine some of “Russian Ark’s” attraction. This is first and foremost a movie for the eyes and the unconscious, and that is where we can find the “Ark’s” meaning. Am I encouraging viewers to turn off their brains while watching “Russian Ark?” Quite the contrary; I’m encouraging them to turn on that sleepy part we usually keep switched off.
Finished March 10th, 2003
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