Photographs used in collage above taken by Alexander Belenkiy.

Alexander Sokurov's film Russian Ark is one of the most beautifully made films of the 21st century. The internet provides many websites in English for those who want to know more about the logistics behind the film's unique feat of cinematography, but very little specifically about the history and culture behind the film.

The purpose of this website is to provide a compilation of notes and links to information about the time periods, people, and objects featured in the film. Like a novel with footnotes to clarify references that may be obscure to some readers, these notes will hopefully be helpful to the viewer of Sokurov's film who may not be as familiar with Russian history. For further information, click on the source links next to each footnote.

This website was created by Candice A. McDougall, an undergraduate at Texas Tech University, as an assignment for 19th Century Russian Civilization Through Literature. Any Russophiles out there that have something to add, feel free to contact me and I will try to update the available information.