The Hermitage Documentary Premiered

On 16 September, 2003, in the Hermitage Theater, the Kingdom of the Netherlands’ Program for the Tercentenary of St. Petersburg "Window on the Netherlands 2003" presented the premiere of the documentary "Passion for the Hermitage" ("Ermitazhniki"). This is a joint project of the State Hermitage Museum and the Hermitage Friends Society in the Netherlands, supported by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in St. Petersburg.

The film’s director is Aliona van der Horst (the Netherlands). Music is composed by the famous Dutch composer and performer Harry de Wit. Before the film showing, he performed a little musical composition.

The documentary in five parts (5 x 25 minutes) is made at the studio Viewpoint Productions and distributed by AVRO TV.

"If you have worked here for one year, you will not yet be called an Ermitazhnik. If you have worked here for 5 years, you are still not an Ermitazhnik. Even if you have been here for 10 years, you may not call yourself an Ermitazhnik. Only if you have worked here for over 20 years, you have deserved the name of Ermitazhnik" (Olga Bogdanova, 76 years).

For over a year Aliona van der Horst and her team were filming the Hermitage personnel who work amidst the masterpieces of Rubens, Rembrandt and Matisse, and the collections of the museum’s founder, Catherine the Great. The film "Ermitazhniki" tells of the love of art showed by these "permanent residents of the museum", from service personnel to the director. The vital importance of art for these people rather than its history is what this film is about.

Based on the website of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in St. Petersburg: www.holland2003.spb.ru/russian/index/index.asp