While I was working on the IFFR, the International Film Festival Rotterdam, Russian Ark was certainly one of the most wanted films. Tickets sold like warm buns, like we're used to say in the Netherlands and I very much did want to see it. Unfortunately, I couldn't. The ratings were very very good and it was one of the top film, among others as Punch-Drunk Love, Divine Intervention, Ken Park and Whale Rider.

What's so special about this film? First of all, it's a feature film that carries a whole story in just ONE SHOT. Yes, that's right, just one of about one hundred minutes. A special digital camera and frame were invented, that carried its own hard disk. The film is about the Russian hermitage (don't exactly know the meaning) and it tells the history of a certain area through a tour in a huge building. All characters (hundreds) are in costume, and I think it must be a wonderful experience to see this movie. It will be in film theater around here very soon, hope to catch it then!