Imperium

Imperium is a documentary composed entirely of archival footage recorded by Italian filmmakers between 1970 and 1973. The film provides a visual survey of the Soviet Union, traveling from the Far East and Central Asian nomadic camps to the Caucasus and Red Square. By focusing on daily life, landscapes, and local rituals, the work highlights a diverse array of cultures that existed within an empire attempting to enforce uniformity.

The film was directed by Sergei Loznitsa and follows his previous works, including A Night at the Opera, The Invasion, Two Prosecutors, and Champ de Mars. This production was a collaborative effort between companies from Germany, Italy, Lithuania, and France, including Essential Filmproduktion and Société Parisienne de Production. The finished documentary has a runtime of 176 minutes and was released on September 5, 2026.