Search DVDBeaver |
S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r |
(aka "Russian Ark" or "Russian Ark - Eine einzigartige Zeitreise durch die Eremitage" or "Russkij kovcheg")
directed
by Aleksandr Sokurov
Russian 2002
A visually hypnotizing cinematic feat, Russian Ark is Alexsandr Sokurov's spellbinding ode to St.Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum in Russia. Shot in one fluid 90 minute take using High Definition video cameras, the photography floats and careens through the lavish corridors of the museum, examining its architectural details while following a dreamlike plot. A cast of 867 actors, thousands of extras and three live orchestras supply the action of the film. Through the sheer determination of the director, or possibly a miracle, the first-ever single screen, single-take full-length feature was created.
From an interview
with Alexander Sokurov |
Posters
Theatrical Release: 22 May 2002 (Cannes Film Festival)
Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews Official Website
Comparison:
Artificial Eye Region 2- PAL vs. Pyramid Home Video - Region 5 - PAL vs. Wellspring - Region 1 - NTSC vs Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray |
Big thanks to Mikkel Svendstrup of DVDsnak for the AE captures and Andrey Dimont for the Region 5 - PAL DVD captures!
1) Artificial Eye - Region 2- PAL LEFT 2) Pyramid Home Video - Region 5 - PAL - SECOND 3) Wellspring - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - RIGHT |
Box Covers |
|
|
|
|
Distribution |
Artificial Eye Film Co. Region 2 - PAL |
Pyramid Home Video Region 5 - PAL |
Wellspring Region 1 - NTSC |
Kino Lorber Region 'A' -Blu-ray |
Runtime | 1:35:09 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:35:09 (4% PAL speedup) | 1:39:06 | 1:39:38.429 |
Video |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio
16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced |
1.78:1 - 1080P
Dual-layered
Blu-ray
Disc Size: 42,457,544,433 bytes Feature: 30,673,918,656 bytesVideo Bitrate: 36.87 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video |
NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes. |
||||
Bitrate:
Artificial Eye
|
|
|||
Bitrate:
Pyramid
|
|
|||
Bitrate:
Wellspring
|
|
|||
Bitrate:
Blu-ray
|
|
|||
Audio | Russian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) | Russian (Dolby Digital 5.1) |
Russian (Dolby Digital 5.1), Russian (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) |
LPCM Audio Russian 2304 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 2304 kbps / 24-bit |
Subtitles | English and none | NONE | English, French and none | English and none |
Features |
Release Information: Studio: Artificial Eye Film Co. Aspect
Ratio: Edition Details:
• Making of documentary
• Hubert Robert A Fortunate Life -
Documentary film by Alexander Sokurov
• Filmographies and biographies
• Theatrical Trailer
• Production Notes
• Weblinks
Chapters 14 |
Release Information: Studio: Pyramid Home Video Aspect
Ratio: Edition Details: • Main title - 1.35.12 (as reported by powerdvd)
Interview - 0.03.18
"One Take Movie" documentary -
0.27.15
Trailer (Russian) - 0.0.15 Trailer (US) - 0.02.12 Making of Russian Ark - 0.06.53 There is a 4-page booklet
Chapters 25
|
Release Information: Aspect
Ratio:
Edition Details:
• Interviews (6:07) DVD Release Date: September 9, 2003 |
Release Information: 1.78:1 - 1080P Dual-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 42,457,544,433 bytes Feature: 30,673,918,656 bytesVideo Bitrate: 36.87 MbpsCodec: MPEG-4 AVC Video
Edition Details: Blu-ray
Release Date: November 19th, 2013
|
Comments: |
NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc. ADDITION: Kino Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray (November 2013): Intrepid investigator Leonard had concerns that Amazon was, initially, listing a PAL running time for the Blu-ray and questioned Kino. We can now see that, indeed, is the proper theatrical - NTSC - running time. Thank goodness.This looks quite good in 1080P. Yes. We can se many improvements from the past SD treatments. It brightens, tightens and colors get bolder. Detail and contrast get a large notch and this is reflected in the kinetic camera movement. The HD-camera is a shade evident but less of a detriment than it was on SD. You can see by the comparative captures how superior the new Blu-ray visuals are. It's funny that the noise, in the second capture, resembles grain textures - perhaps this is from the printed 35 format. There is no a lot of depth but i suspect this was a function of the production rather than a flaw of the transfer.Audio gets a lossless transfer but no 5.1 surround is offered - only 2.0 channel. The linear PCM sounds accurate exporting the various cavernous room echoes of the narration. The Mikhail Glinka pieces sound super as does the Telemann, Purcell and Tchaikovsky. You get a real sense of atmosphere, and depth, with the LPCM. The dialogue is in, original, Russian with optional English subtitles. We should not the title screen is now in English where I believe it was in Russian for the DVDs. This Blu-ray is coded or region 'A'. Kino Lorber include Knut Elstermann's In One Breath: Alexander Sokurov's Russian Ark made in 2003 taking to members of the cast and crew of the major film. It is in original English, German and Russian with English subtitles. There is also a trailer. Both it and the documentary are in 1080i resolution. It's a shame they could include the commentary on the WellsSpring or produce a new one. I really enjoyed this meditative historical-recreation meandering through the Hermitage Museum. The single-take is a feat and hard not to be impressed by the co-ordination. This is something I can watch anytime as an alternative. It is measured, deeply interesting and wonderful to simply be exposed to some of this culture, Russia's past and present, that I feel largely ignorant about - it's a huge bonus. I like the Blu-ray - the best way to see it in your home theatre. *** ADDITION (January 2004 ) - Artificial Eye - Region 2-PAL - The Pyramid release still seems slightly superior in terms of image quality but it is almost negligible. The Artificial Eye only has the 2.0 audio track and looks slightly cropped in spots but possibly it is the inaccuracy of our frame captures (they were hard to be exact as it is such a dark transfer). Colors again look the same in all three releases. Their Extras are good, and include "A Fortunate Life" by Sokurov. I doubt I would change if I had the Artificial Eye - especially if I don't understand Russian. But people who own the Wellspring may want "A Fortunate Life" enough to own both. Unfortunately this is looking about as good as this film will get on DVD. Shame. The colors of these two anamorphic issues are virtually identical, which is a positive sign. The Wellspring image is les sharp and very slightly cropped in comparison to the Pyramid Region 5 version. The Extras are in favor of the Wellspring which really went to town with some long shorts ('Making of' and 'interviews'). The big issue is that the Pyramid version does not have English subtitles, so it can easily be dismissed by most people ( as they don't speak Russian), but its nice to compare the two to see that the colors and aspect ratio have been maintained. - Gary W. Tooze |
Menus
(Artificial
Eye - Region 2- PAL LEFT vs. Pyramid
Home Video
- Region 5 - PAL - MIDDLE vs. Wellspring - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
|
|
CLICK EACH BLU-RAY CAPTURE TO SEE ALL IMAGES IN FULL 1920X1080 RESOLUTION
Subtitle Sample - Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray
1) Artificial Eye - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) Pyramid Home Video - Region 5 - PAL - SECOND 3) Wellspring - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
1) Artificial Eye - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) Pyramid Home Video - Region 5 - PAL - SECOND 3) Wellspring - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
|
|
1) Artificial Eye - Region 2- PAL TOP 2) Pyramid Home Video - Region 5 - PAL - SECOND 3) Wellspring - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD 4) Kino / Lorber - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - BOTTOM |
|
|
Report Card:
Image: |
Blu-ray |
Sound: |
Blu-ray |
Extras: | Wellspring / Artificial Eye |
Box Covers |
|
|
|
|
Distribution |
Artificial Eye Film Co. Region 2 - PAL |
Pyramid Home Video Region 5 - PAL |
Wellspring Region 1 - NTSC |
Kino Lorber Region 'A' -Blu-ray |