TEHRAN-The cinematheque of the Iranian Artists Forum in Tehran will show the 2002 history fantasy film “Russian Ark” directed by Aleksandr Sokurov on Monday.

The film screening will be followed with a review session in the presence of the filmmaker Shahram Ashraf Abyaneh, Mehr reported.

The plot follows an unnamed narrator, who wanders through the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, and implies that he died in some horrible accident and is a ghost drifting through. In each room, he encounters various real and fictional people from various periods in the city's 300-year history. He is accompanied by "the European", who represents the Marquis de Custine, a 19th-century French traveler.

An international co-production between Russia and Germany, “Russian Ark” was shot entirely in the Winter Palace of the Russian State Hermitage Museum, using a one-take single 87-minute Steadicam sequence shot. 

Regarded as one of the greatest Russian films of all time, it displays 33 rooms of the museum, which are filled with a cast of over 2,000 actors and three orchestras.

“Russian Ark” received the Visions Award at the 2002 Toronto International Film Festival, a Special Citation at the 2003 San Francisco Film Critics Circle Awards and the 2004 Silver Condor Award for Best Foreign Film from the Argentine Film Critics Association. It was also nominated for the Palme d'Or at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival, the Golden Hugo at the 2002 Chicago International Film Festival and the 2004 Nika Award for Best Film.

Alexander Sokurov, 72, is one of the most important contemporary Russian filmmakers. His films have earning numerous awards around the world. While most known for his feature films, Sokurov has directed over 20 interesting documentaries. 

In addition to “Russian Ark,” which is a historic achievement that will be watched and talked about by many generations, his 2011 mystery fantasy “Faust” was honored with the Golden Lion, the highest prize for the best film at the Venice Film Festival.

The screening of the film on Monday will be its 554th program of the IAF cinematheque, which is dedicated to the screening of the famous films from Iran and the world.

The Iranian Artists Forum is situated at Artists Park on North Mousavi Street, Taleqani Street.

SS/SAB