Robert. Schastlivaya zhizn

This is another film about "high art" before Russian ark. The artist, featured is Hubert Robert. The Hermitage asked Directors of Petersburg to make films about the European painters in this famous museum. This is the product of Sokurov.

Hubert Robert may not be the most famous painter in the Hermitage, but still there is a lot to learn about him. But it is not a documentary. The film starts with a traditional Japanese theater. What this has to do with an 18th century French painter? There is a connection apperently. With digital technology the mist and snow is added. Just like in other films of Sokurov he uses this technology in a way of a painter.

Greenaway might have said that film is a medium, too good to use it only to tell stories. Sokurov is already a long way beyond this description.