A feature length single shot is indeed different, and a very clever idea that must have been a massive tour de force by the entire production team. But when I ask others what they thought of the movie, it is this single shot single fact that dominates, rather than actually what was in the shot.
I'm afraid that for me it dragged, perhaps partly because my limited knowledge of Russian history meant that many verbal and visual references were totally lost on me. Yes, a magificent building, yes, magnificent artworks, but in viewing them, all the movie camera did was try very hard to give us still shots. It was only the magnificent ball scene that redeemed it. A nice bit of costume drama with a big cast. So it's 3 cheers for the mazurka, and 6 out of 10 for the movie.
Glad I saw it on a freebie ticket.
I'm afraid that for me it dragged, perhaps partly because my limited knowledge of Russian history meant that many verbal and visual references were totally lost on me. Yes, a magificent building, yes, magnificent artworks, but in viewing them, all the movie camera did was try very hard to give us still shots. It was only the magnificent ball scene that redeemed it. A nice bit of costume drama with a big cast. So it's 3 cheers for the mazurka, and 6 out of 10 for the movie.
Glad I saw it on a freebie ticket.