by Clarke Fountain
synopsis
Due to their proximity, Russia and Japan have a history of interesting cultural contacts. In this movie, set in the 1880s, a devoutly Christian Japanese girl has come to St. Petersburg to study the art of icon-painting at a nunnery. Icons are believed by the religious to serve as windows into heaven, so they are not made in a frivolous or superficial manner. When the girl is not studying the meaning and methodology of her chosen form of devotional craft, she has encounters with Russians in her day, including some revolutionaries. One of the selling points of this film for art students is that it gives an excellent look at the icons and interiors of St. Petersburg's churches.
