Aleksandr Sokurov
Director · Born June 14, 1951 · village Podorvikha, Irkutsk Region, RSFSR, USSR, (now Russia)
IMDbBiography
Aleksandr Sokurov (born June 14, 1951) is a Russian director of avant-garde and independent films that have won him international acclaim. Described as a heir to Tarkovsky, spare, gloomy and contemplative, he often blurs lines between image and world. His noticable trademark and style includes long, accurate shots of real painterly compositions, disorted field of view, zooms and use of wide angle lenses. Often plotless with emphasis on aesthetics and impressionism his films are noted for philosophical approach to history and nature. Sokurov underlines the importance of film, not to yield to the modern audience laziness, and to stay away from mere entertainment. His most significant works include a feature film, Russian Ark (2002), filmed in a single unedited shot, Mother and Son (1997) and Faust (2011), which was honoured with the Golden Lion, the highest prize for the best film at the Venice Film Festival.
Directed 56
2020s
- 2025
Director's Diary
Director
- 2022
Fairytale
Director
2010s
- 2016
Go. Go. Go
Director
- 2015
Francofonia
Director
- 2011
- 2010
We Need Happiness
Director
2000s
- 2009
Reading Book of Blockade
Director
Elegy of a Voyage
Director
- 2008
Rehearsal: Yuri Temirkanov
Director
- 2007
Alexandra
Director
Boris Godounov
Stage Director
The Andrei Tarkovsky Companion
Director
- 2006
Elegy of Life: Rostropovich, Vishnevskaya
Director
- 2005
The Sun
Director
- 2004
The Diary of St. Petersburg: Mozart. Requiem
Director
- 2003
Father and Son
Director
- 2002
Russian Ark
Director
- 2001
Taurus
Director
- 2000
Dolce
Director
1990s
- 1999
Moloch
Director
- 1998
The Knot
Director
Confession
Director
The Diary of St. Petersburg: Kozintsev's Flat
Director
- 1997
A Humble Life
Director
The Diary of St. Petersburg: Inauguration of the Monument to Dostoevsky
Director
Robert. A Fortunate Life
Director
- 1996
Oriental Elegy
Director
Celebrate Cinema 101
Director
- 1995
Spiritual Voices
Director
A Soldier's Dream
Director
- 1994
Whispering Pages
Director
- 1993
Elegy from Russia
Director
- 1992
Stone
Director
- 1990
To the Events in Transcaucasia
Director
The Second Circle
Director
Save and Protect
Director
Simple Elegy
Director
Leningrad Retrospective
Director
1980s
- 1989
Soviet Elegy
Director
Petersburg Elegy
Director
- 1988
Days of Eclipse
Director
Maria
Director
- 1987
The Lonely Voice of Man
Director
The Evening Sacrifice
Director
Empire
Director
Moscow Elegy
Director
Mournful Unconcern
Director
And Nothing More
Director
- 1986
Elegy
Director
- 1985
Patience Labour
Director
- 1981
Dmitri Shostakovich. Sonata for Viola
Director
- 1980
The Degraded
Director
1970s
- 1979
Last Day of a Rainy Summer
Director
- 1975
Callsign R1NN
Director
- 1974
The Automobile Gains in Reliability
Director
Wrote 30
2020s
- 2025
Director's Diary
Writer
- 2022
Fairytale
Screenplay
2010s
- 2019
A Russian Youth
Creative Producer
- 2016
Go. Go. Go
Screenplay
- 2015
Francofonia
Screenplay
- 2011
2000s
- 2009
Deserto rosa. Luigi Ghirri
Screenplay
Elegy of a Voyage
Writer
- 2007
Alexandra
Writer
- 2006
Elegy of Life: Rostropovich, Vishnevskaya
Writer
- 2002
Russian Ark
Writer, Dialogue
1990s
- 1998
Confession
Writer
The Diary of St. Petersburg: Kozintsev's Flat
Writer
- 1997
A Humble Life
Writer
The Diary of St. Petersburg: Inauguration of the Monument to Dostoevsky
Writer
Robert. A Fortunate Life
Writer
- 1996
Oriental Elegy
Writer
- 1995
Spiritual Voices
Writer
A Soldier's Dream
Writer
- 1994
Whispering Pages
Screenplay
- 1993
Elegy from Russia
Screenplay
- 1990
To the Events in Transcaucasia
Writer
Simple Elegy
Writer
1980s
- 1989
Soviet Elegy
Writer
- 1988
Maria
Writer
I Love You All Very Much...
Creative Producer
- 1987
The Evening Sacrifice
Writer
Moscow Elegy
Writer
- 1980
The Degraded
Writer
1970s
- 1979
Last Day of a Rainy Summer
Writer
Acted in 14
2010s
- 2019
Voices in the Old Walls
Movie
- 2015
Francofonia
(voice)
- 2012
Alexander Sokurov. Temptation
Movie
2000s
- 2009
Elegy of a Voyage
The Traveler (uncredited)
- 2002
Russian Ark
The Time Traveller (voice / uncredited)
1990s
- 1998
The Diary of St. Petersburg: Kozintsev's Flat
Movie
- 1997
The Diary of St. Petersburg: Inauguration of the Monument to Dostoevsky
(voice)
Edward Shelganov visiting Sokurov
Movie
- 1995
A Soldier's Dream
Movie
- 1990
Simple Elegy
Movie
Leningrad Retrospective
Movie
1980s
- 1981
You Should Survive
Movie
1970s
- 1979
VGIK: Teachers and Students Talk About the Profession
Movie
No release date
Like a River’s Flow
as himself
Produced 4
2020s
- 2025
Director's Diary
Producer
- 2023
Russian Dreams
Production Consultant
2010s
- 2017
The Life Of My Friend
Producer
Closeness
Producer
Camera 3
2000s
- 2005
The Sun
Director of Photography
- 2001
Taurus
Director of Photography
1980s
- 1987
Empire
Director of Photography
Edited 1
1970s
- 1974
The Automobile Gains in Reliability
Editor
Art department 1
2020s
- 2024
Gjirokastra
Art Direction
Created 1
1990s
- 1998
Confession
Creator
Appearances22
2020s
- 2026
Naum. Predictions
self
- 2025
Director's Diary
Self
2010s
- 2014
- 2013
The Romanovs: Glory and Fall of the Czars
Himself - Filmmaker
- 2011
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self · 1 episode
Agnès Varda: From Here to There
Self
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self · 1 episode
- 2010
We Need Happiness
Narrator (voice)
2000s
- 2009
The Art of Time
Self
- 2008
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Lightning strikes a tall tree
Self
Alexander Sokurov: Questions about cinema
Himself
- 2006
Sokurov
himself
Elegy of Life: Rostropovich, Vishnevskaya
Himself
- 2003
In One Breath: Alexander Sokurov's Russian Ark
Himself
Kira
Self
1990s
- 1998
The Knot
Self
- 1997
Robert. A Fortunate Life
Narrator
- 1996
Oriental Elegy
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
1980s
- 1989
Soviet Elegy
Narrator (voice)
Petersburg Elegy
Narrator
- 1987
Moscow Elegy
Narrator (voice)
And Nothing More
narrator (voice)