If you want to create a feature-length film in just one take, the beautiful State Hermitage of St. Petersburg is probably the best place to do it. Commissioned by Catherine the Great in the mid-1700s, the museum is one of the largest in the world and houses thousands of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and more.
In fact, on December 23, 2001, Alexandr Sokurov did just that. A camera ran without stopping for 90-minutes straight (after a few start-overs), following the unnamed narrator of his masterpiece, Russian Ark, as he wanders from room to room in the Hermitage. This 2-kilometer path presents 3 centuries of Russia’s history, taking the viewer on a journey through Russia’s past.
When I first saw this film, I was taken aback by the beauty of the Hermitage. As the camera wound through various rooms, stumbling across balls, receptions, and past Russian rulers, it seemed as if there were no end to this magical realm.

We were fortunate enough to experience the State Hermitage for ourselves in early May. I’m a realist. I wasn’t expecting the same Hermitage of Sokurov’s tale–I am fully aware of the post-production magic that often goes on with most major motion films. However, upon climbing the same Jordan staircase featured in the film, I immediately realized that I hadn’t given the Museum enough credit. Built during a time when St. Petersburg had to prove its worth in the European world, the Hermitage is grand, beautiful and boasts an impressive collection of artwork. We spent 3 hours in the Hermitage, almost as much time as it took Sokurov to film Russian Ark. Following our Marquis-analog tour guide, we looked at paintings and frescoes, imagining a time when the Hermitage was filled not with tourists, but with Russian officials and nobility.

 
Additional Reading:
“Art’s Fading Sway: Russian Ark by Alexander Sokurov.'” The White Review, n.d. http://www.thewhitereview.org/art/arts-fading-sway-russian-ark-by-aleksandr-sokurov/
“The ‘Russian Ark’ Project of the State Hermitage and Aleksander Sokurov.” Hermitage Museum, n.d. http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/13/hm13_2_002.htmlhttp://www.thewhitereview.org/art/arts-fading-sway-russian-ark-by-aleksandr-sokurov/
“Era of Catherine the Great: 18th Century.” Hermitage Museum, n.d. http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/03/hm3_6_4.html