My Take:

I’m not sure why this film, released just twelve years ago, was on TCM but I'm thankful I stumbled across it.

In a word: Remarkable! One continuous steadicam shot, over ninety minutes, through the halls of The Hermitage, involving over 4,500 people in front/behind the camera.

Told in part from the POV of an unseen man who has no idea where he is until he meets an aristocrat from the 19th century who becomes the storyteller. The two stroll through the entire Hermitage museum in St Petersburg, Russia, encountering people from the past and present. It took a few moments to acclimate at the beginning with the mixture of subtitles and loads of people, but once I knew where I was, it was fascinating.

What I Liked:

Sergey Dreyden who plays the aristocrat, was a trip to watch, both eccentric and smart, he had my attention throughout… and I loved the way he held himself, literally.

What I Didn't Like:

Nada

What I Learned:

The Hermitage agreed to shut down the museum for one day to accommodate filming and capture everything. The first three takes were busted due to technical difficulties, but the fourth was a success.