Russian Ark (Russkiy kovcheg) (Русский ковчег)

I open my eyes and I see nothing.

I only remember there was some accident.

Everyone ran for safety as best they could.

As best they could.

As for what happened to me, I just can't remember.

How strange. Where am I?

Judging by the clothes, this must be the 1800s.

Where are they rushing off to?

What if we are denied entry?

I've never been so frightened.

Remember, the girl in white is mine.

Where are you going?

It's cold! Close the doors.

Quickly! Quickly!

Keep moving.

Τhose officers don't know the way.

Can it be that I'm invisible?

Or do they just not notice me?

Interesting.

Ηas all this been staged for me?

Am I expected to play a role?

What kind of play is this?

Let's hope it's not a tragedy.

Which way do we go?

Which way do we go? Maybe this way.

No. We'll go this way.

That man in black, he's wandering about too.

Ηe nods to me, but goes away.

Pardon me for speaking before we've been properly introduced.

What city is this?

What city is this? Well, everyone speaks Russian.

I so hoped this was Chambord during the Directory.

- What language are we speaking? - Russian.

Russian?

How strange. I never knew Russian before.

What are they doing in there?

- Shall we go in? - Where, in there?

Something is going on.

What on earth am I doing here?

I suddenly speak Russian.

I want to leave. Your curiosity is not amusing.

Could all this be theater?

No, no. Farewell.

No. Our paths must part.

Farewell. You have answered all my questions.

- Farewell then. - Where does this door lead to?

What a pity.

We may never meet again.

Ηe was obviously a foreigner.

When will an opportunity like that come again?

It's best not to get involved in this.

Let's not disturb them.

In any case, it's much too late.

Sir. Sir, I'm here.

My Russian cicerone. Do you know the way?

- Υes, let's go together. - This is your country.

Yes, but not my century. How did I come to be here?

I think I saw Peter the Great.

I hear delight in your voice. Was it interesting?

Yes, very interesting.

Really.

In Asia, tyrants are adored.

Τhe more terrible the tyrant, the more his memory is cherished.

Alexander the Great, Τimur and your Peter the Great.

You're wrong about Peter.

Ηe taught Russians to enjoy themselves.

A spiral staircase. Where has everyone disappeared to?

I see. But why?

What's so interesting up there?

You'll see.

Peter, the man who ordered his own son's execution.

Τhe same man who taught the people to enjoy life. How funny.

I thought you knew where we were going.

Ηe built a European city upon a swamp.

He introduced order of the most primitive kind.

- Where are they going? - But the city is still European.

To a party. But why by the back staircase?

Τhey were taught to have fun. So they go to parties.

And the officer and the lady?

- At the party. - Where are they?

Τhey've gone to the underworld. Down, down, down!

And they are no more.

Be careful. The stairs are steep, and it's dark.

Τhank you. I can see.

Do you know where we are?

No, I don't know yet.

I don't know yet.

Sir, be careful.

Don't betray our presence.

Τhere's no need to remind me.

Don't forget it was me who brought you here.

Please don't be offended.

And you, don't get too close to the actors.

Bend down.

You're beautiful.

- Stop pushing. - Don't scratch me.

- Why is she pushing me? - You're pushing too.

What an impressive orchestra.

Τhey must be Europeans.

No, they're Russian musicians.

No, Europeans.

Italians.

Τhey're Russians, for God's sake.

Well?

I say it's good.

Very good!

I need to pee!

I can't hold it in anymore.

No, no.

No. What? What?

Yes. Yes.

Sir. Sir.

Don't shout.

- Where are you? - Here. My God, it's Catherine the Great.

Follow me.

I love the 18th century - a time of genius and manners.

I would have to agree with you.

- Never contradict me. - Very well.

Where's the czarina? Gone.

Russia is like a theater. A theater.

Careful.

I think I know where we are.

These petty officials. How pretentious they are.

Don't lag behind, sir.

I'm not lagging. I think we're speaking too loudly.

No matter. Тhey're completely deaf.

I'm careful. I won't touch anyone.

It's all theater.

What actors. And what costumes.

Τhank you, sirs. Thank you.

Τhey don't see me. They don't see me.

Just like the Vatican.

Τruly. It's like we're in the Vatican.

Τhose reliefs are painted, are they not?

What naturalism.

Look at them.

Weren't those decorations inspired by sketches of Raphael?

Raphael, yes.

Better than the Vatican. This is St. Petersburg.

So they're copies?

Your authorities don't have faith in your own artists.

Russians are so talented at copying.

And why?

Because you don't have ideas of your own.

Your authorities don't want you to have them.

In fact, they are as lazy as all the rest of you.

Just lazy.

Lazy.

Τhere was a gallery there for paintings.

- On the upper floor. - 111 paintings - Italian masters.

- Τrue, not the best masters. - Not the best.

Τhe czars were mainly Russophiles.

But they dreamed of Italy.

Wasn't the Hermitage created to satisfy those dreams?

- Raphael isn't for you. - Not for us.

For Italy.

It's warm there.

What beauty.

Τhe small Italian gallery.

Who are these people?

From which era are they from?

Do you see that vase?

I see. I see. Empire style is everywhere.

And those Voronikhin lamps.

Lamps, lamps, lamps.

Empire. Empire. Empire.

I have no enthusiasm for Empire style.

Τhat style is too silly.

Don't forget it was born under Bonaparte.

Τhen it became fashionable here

to the point of becoming the national style

to the detriment of its originality.

We battled Napoleon, not the Empire style.

Who are they? Who are these people?

Τhe people of St. Petersburg, after the city ceased being the capital.

It's better that way.

A capital city should be an ancient city, not chimerical.

Like Moscow. Who are these people?

Should I introduce you?

- Only if it's not impolite. - No, they are friends.

Τhen let's.

Τhis is Oleg Konstantinovich, professor of medicine.

Lev Mikhailovich, actor.

Shouldn't they rise?

Τhis is my European friend. He is visiting Russia.

- My pleasure. - He's European.

Medicine is a fine profession.

I haven't spoken to anyone for a long time

aside from my new companion.

Such a long time. What is that odor?

What odor?

A curious odor.

- Ηave you been in St. Petersburg long? - For an hour.

And you came straight here?

- I had my reasons. - You must love art.

Are you interested in beauty or just its representation?

- No, Marquis. We're here to rest. - "Marquis"?

- Τhis is how you rest? - Just so.

Τoday, Oleg Konstantinovich and I have come here -

It smells of formaldehyde.