Plot
An unseen man regains consciousness, not knowing who or where he is. No one seems to be able to see him, except the mysterious man dressed in black. He eventually learns through their discussions that this man is a 19th century French aristocrat, who he coins the "European". This turn of events is unusual as the unseen man has a knowledge of the present day. The two quickly learn that they are in the Winter Palace of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the European who has a comprehensive knowledge of Russian history to his time. As the two travel through the palace and its grounds, they interact with people from various eras of Russian history, either through events that have happened at the palace or through the viewing of artifacts housed in the museum. Ultimately, the unseen man's desired journey is to move forward, with or without his European companion.
Written by
Boris Khaimsky, Anatoli Nikiforov, Svetlana Proskurina
Directed by
Aleksandr Sokurov
Crew
Production Countries
Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Japan, Russia
Production Companies
State Hermitage Museum, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM), WDR/Arte, Fora Film, Koppmedia, NHK, DR, AST Studios, Mariinsky Theatre, Filmboard Berlin-Brandenburg (FBB), YLE, Egoli Tossell Film, Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien, Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Hermitage Bridge Studio, The, FilmFörderung Hamburg
Languages
Awards
10 wins & 15 nominations