A magnificent conjuring act, an eerie historical mirage evoked in a single sweeping wave of the hand.
THE NEW YORK TIMES

A masterpiece….Sokurov’s film relives its adventures on a kaleidoscopic scale. Russian Ark is a testament to both our fascination with history and our nostalgia for a glorious, decadent past.
INDIEWIRE

Rich in the colorful and opulent costumes and historical details of the Imperial eras, RUSSIAN ARK moves at a lively pace…
BOX OFFICE

Audacious in conception and breathtaking in execution, this compelling compendium of historical incident and cultural ideas will thrill anyone with a passion for film. The manner in which director Aleksandr Sokurov has choreographed Tilman Büttner’s single-take Steadicam waltz around St Petersburg’s Hermitage museum is pure cinematic poetry. This ingenuity is matched by the variety of rhythms the action accomplishes…providing the audience with a privileged private view of the Hermitage’s treasures as well as a unique insight into the Russian character, this is a masterclass in content and form. (FIVE STARS)
THE RADIO TIMES

“Russian Ark” is an astonishing technological feat, but what is even more remarkable is that the technology does not overwhelm the artistry..
THE LA TIMES

Dazzling….RUSSIAN ARK’s examination of the role in our lives of history and art makes it a fascinating and absorbing film
SIGHT AND SOUND

Extraordinarily virtuoso mise-en-scène…it’s hard not to be distracted by thoughts of how it was all choreographed
TIME OUT