Russian Ark Page #3

- They're covered with dust...

from their long road to appear

in this painting.

- What happened?

- They are good and wise.

How can you know their character...

if you have not read the gospels?

How can you know all that?

Sir, why are you frightening him?

He was already afraid.

He's not afraid.

These people are never afraid.

Leave him alone.

Better to appreciate the scent

of the paintings.

- It smells good.

- Very good.

You need not fear.

So strange to hear those words.

Now I understand.

We're in the gallery.

Yes...

I understand.

We're in the Tsar's gallery...

near the portrait

of a medieval fanatic.

Where have we wandered to?

That music was good, after all.

Who was the composer?

- Glinka.

- Who is he? A german?

a Russian.

No, he's german.

All composers are german.

All composers are german?

El greco.

Very nice.

Looks like a rembrandt.

El greco... dust from the roads.

What dust from the roads?

Nice, very nice.

- Something you don't like?

- Not at all.

- It's nice, very nice.

- Nice...

more flesh... very nice.

These are nice paintings.

Nice paintings...

they're getting better and better.

There's an angel.

Pardon me for addressing you

without an introduction.

To whom was that directed?

Do tell.

- I'm speaking to the painting.

- You are speaking to the painting?

How interesting!

- I must speak my mind.

- Speak your mind?

And so you talk to the painting.

Would you like to try?

Must I try? Very well.

- Like that.

- Like this?

Now, like this.

Now a turn.

Sometimes

I prefer speaking to myself.

This painting and I...

we have a secret.

Really?

- Yes.

- Now it's over.

That's all, gentlemen. Good-bye!

Where are you going, madam?

She's offended.

She has left.

Hi!

Good-bye!

Farewell, gentleman!

How charming!

She's offended. But so charming!

Where has she gone?

Marble...

a white stone...

very white.

Rather cold, isn't it?

When you first came here,

it must have been disastrous.

That was just after the fire.

I have been here before,

but it's as if I have not.

What luxury!

What is that?

It's under the convention that

everything was devastated.

you don't know 20th-century Russian history.

Our convention lasted 80 years.

A real revolution... very sad.

What kind of system is there now?

A republic?

I don't know.

I have never believed

that a republic was suitable...

for a country as large as russia.

You europeans are democrats

who mourn the monarchy.

- You are French, is that it?

- Who are you?

Excuse us, we're lost.

- Please be on your way.

- Let us live! Let us live!

- Remaining here is forbidden!

- Help us, please.

Who forbids it?

What is forbidden?

What language!

Everything is forbidden!

It's better not to argue.

We're going, we're going.

I know where we can hide.

I suddenly feel afraid.

I don't like military uniforms.

- Not that door, sir!

- But I like it.

- Such a beautiful door!

- No, not that one!

Why is it so cold?

I told you not to enter.

What cold! Frames...

but where are...

where are the canvases?

Let's go back, I beg you.

- Who's there?

- It's me.

- Why have you come here?

- I don't know. I simply entered.

- Come closer.

- I'm coming.

Maybe you need help, kind sir.

Who is the "kind sir"?

Me... you...

not here, not there.

There is no one.

Only coffins and corpses.

Come and see.

- I'm coming.

- That's my coffin.

- Your coffin?

- Yes, I made it myself.

Why that strange tone, kind sir?

Why coffins in the hermitage?

"Kind sir"!

- It's my coffin.

- Yes, it is yours.

- He looks well-fed!

- But where are the corpses?

Why do you ask "where"?

Don't step on the corpses.

He looks well-fed!

You stepped on the corpses!

- What happened?

- The war.

Which war? Against whom?

- Against germany.

- What is germany?

The unified state of the germans.

In the 20th century,

russia was at war with germany.

The germans surrounded the city.

But the city did not surrender.

More than 1 million dead.

- More than 1 million?

- Yes.

That's a high price to pay.

Very high.

Saint petersburg

and the hermitage paid dearly.

In russia, it is said that

freedom knows no price.

A very high price.

But maybe not.

But it has already been paid.

I was wrong, by the way...

when I criticised your Tsars...

for all this beauty and opulence.

Even if they all were...

tyrants.

Quieter, please.

But it is beautiful, isn't it?

What do you see? Who is it?

Maybe Catherine II,

but I'm not certain.

Nothing could be less certain.

That's enough! Lisa,

take away the children.

Don't go too near to her.

If it is Catherine,

she has a sixth sense...

like this.

Lower, lower!

That will be all.

The candles, the candles.

It's stuffy in here.

- There.

- No, I won't let you.

That's it.

But it's cold outside.

That's it.

Sir!

Where are you?

I hear your footsteps.

Where are you?

Mortals must not chase royalty.

You won't catch up anyway.

I hear your footsteps.

I hear them.

Sir, what are you doing? It's cold!

- Come this way.

- Yes, it's cold.

- She disappeared.

- I know.

- She disappeared again.

- Move aside.

- Do you know where to go?

- Help us. Come.

Let us through. We are allowed.

Where is the door? Where is it?

Greetings!

Don't be shy. Come.

We will not stay long.

Thank you very much.

A new hairstyle is necessary.

What beautiful hair you have!

Those curls!

Tea! Would you like tea?

I don't either, but they insist.

Where is the tea?

We're in a hurry. Where is it?

- I know I'm beautiful.

- Too beautiful.

What do you want me to say?

- Come on!

- I have nothing to say!

What is that?

- Did you write this book?

- Not me. He did.

Neither he nor I.

But he will dedicate it.

Follow me.

Sir, what are you looking at?

Shall we continue?

What do I see?

Nothing for the moment.

Some people are obviously waiting

for something.

Let's proceed with caution.

These madmen could eat you.

They liked your hair.

Of course, good writers always have

beautiful hair.

- Be more careful and quiet now.

- I'm following you.

- Close the door quickly.

- It's done.

When I was last received here

at the winter palace...

it was being renovated

after the terrible fire.

- The parquet doesn't creak.

- It doesn't creak...

- the ambassador of persia!

- Excuse us for being late.

Sir, let's go.

The ambassador

of His Highness the Shah...

prince Khozrev-Mirza...

the son of the future shah,

with his entourage.

- Do you know what is happening?

- Not yet.

We are witnesses.

Nicholas i received an apology from the persian emissaries...

regarding the murder of Russian diplomats.

Griboedov was one, I think.

How interesting.

Are you able to see?

What uniforms!

Luxury, empire...

power...

look over there. Higher.

Can you see?

Yes, I see now!

One must not trust this world.

You are right.

Beware, court officials are cunning.

Some of them are mediums.

They could sense your presence.

Thank you for your advice.

We gemini are curious by nature.

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