10 Movies To Challenge Even The Most Hardcore Film Buff

8. Russian Ark

A strong background in 300 years of Russian history wouldn't go amiss before sitting down to Russian Ark, acclaimed Russian director Alexander Sokurov's graceful, single-take journey through the expansive, luxuriant halls of Saint Petersburg's Winter Palace. In Russian Ark, the camera takes the point of view of an unseen narrator who takes the audience on a tour of the aforementioned palace, elucidating as to his fate as a ghost, destined to wander from room to room amongst the memories of the city and the many people who had come before him. From intimate scenes to grand banquets and balls, Russian Ark eavesdrops on the historical events featuring such figures as Tsar Nicholas I, Catherine the Great and the Shah of Iran. Sokurov's project, featuring thousands of extras and three orchestras, would have been ambitious enough had it been filmed conventionally. The fact that he opted to do it all in a single take makes it all the more impressive, even if non-historians may find themselves delving for Wikipedia to brush up on the facts. The making of documentary, In One Breath, is essential viewing for those curious as to how such a challenging shoot could be pulled off with such grace.